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The tally of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has reached its highest point since the beginning of official data began in 1980.

New figures indicate that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in custody in the year leading up to June were Indigenous. This marks an increase from 24 deaths in the prior corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately represented in the justice system. They make up over 33% of all prisoners, despite comprising under 4% of the national population.

These disturbing figures come to light more than three decades after a landmark royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, 26 occurred while in prison custody, which is an increase from 18 in the previous year.

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

The other six deaths happened in the custody of law enforcement, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are detaining them.

The main reason of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-inflicted," with "natural causes." The data noted that asphyxiation was the cause in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Breakdown

The state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Indigenous deaths in prison custody with nine, followed by Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths.

The growing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing reality," the state's chief medical examiner has remarked.

In a recent statement, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this rising pattern was not "just statistics" and that these deaths demanded "thorough and careful examination, respect and responsibility."

Demographic Information and Expert Response

The average age of those who died was 45, and eleven of the individuals were awaiting a court sentencing.

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the figures as reflecting a "national crisis" that requires "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple official inquiries with grieving families, said very little has improved since the 1991 national inquiry that aimed to tackle this issue.

"It's maddening to witness the number of inquests I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades past the royal commission, and the problem is getting increasingly worse," she noted.

Since the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 Indigenous people have died in detention, which encompasses six in youth detention, according to the report.