Indigenous Deaths in Custody in Australia Climb to Record Number Since the Start of 1980

The number of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has reached its highest point since records started in 1980.

Recently released figures reveal that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in detention in the 12-month period ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an increase from 24 deaths in the prior corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are severely overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all prisoners, despite representing under 4% of the country's people.

These sobering numbers come to light over three decades after a seminal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Recent Figures

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, 26 occurred while in a correctional facility, which is an rise from 18 in the previous year.

One death was in youth detention, and all except one of the individuals were male.

The other six deaths took place in police custody, defined as when someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The main reason of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-harm," followed by "illness." The report found that asphyxiation was the method in eight of the cases.

Geographic Distribution

The Australian state of New South Wales had the greatest number of Indigenous deaths in prison custody with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths.

The growing number of First Nations deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing reality," the state's chief medical examiner recently said.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful examination, dignity and accountability."

Profile Details and Expert Response

The mean age of those who died was 45, and eleven of the deceased were still waiting for a sentence.

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, described the data as reflecting a "national emergency" that needs "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several official inquiries with bereaved families, stated little has changed since the 1991's royal commission that aimed to tackle this issue.

"It's maddening to see the quantity of investigations I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the fact that we are 30 years past the inquiry, and the situation is getting increasingly worse," she commented.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 First Nations people have lost their lives in custody, which encompasses six in juvenile detention centers, according to the report.