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The number of First Nations people dying while in custody in Australia has hit its highest point since records began in 1980.

Fresh data indicate that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in detention in the 12-month period leading up to June have been identified as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an uptick from 24 deaths in the preceding corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are severely overrepresented in the justice system. They constitute over 33% of all prisoners, even though comprising under 4% of the national people.

These disturbing numbers come to light more than three decades after a pivotal royal commission into Indigenous deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

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

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

The remaining six deaths took place in police custody, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are detaining them.

The main cause of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," followed by "natural causes." The data noted that asphyxiation was the cause in eight of the cases.

Geographic Distribution

The state of New South Wales had the greatest number of Aboriginal deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths.

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

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this rising pattern was not "just statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful scrutiny, dignity and responsibility."

Profile Details and Academic Response

The mean age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the individuals were awaiting a sentence.

A university expert, Amanda Porter, described the data as representing a "national crisis" that requires "leadership and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple official inquiries with grieving families, said little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that was established to address this issue.

"It's maddening to see the number of inquests I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years past the royal commission, and the problem is getting increasingly worse," she noted.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a approximately 600 First Nations people have died in detention, which encompasses six in juvenile detention centers, as per the report.