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The count of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has reached its highest point since official data started in 1980.

Fresh figures show that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in custody in the 12-month period ending in June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an uptick from 24 fatalities in the preceding equivalent period.

Indigenous Australian people remain disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. They constitute over 33% of all prisoners, even though comprising under 4% of the national population.

These disturbing numbers come to light over three decades after a landmark inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made numerous of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Recent Figures

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, twenty-six took place while in prison custody, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year.

One death was in a juvenile facility, and all except one of the deceased were men.

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

The main cause of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-harm," with "natural causes." The data noted that asphyxiation was the method in eight of the cases.

State-by-State Breakdown

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

The rising number of First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing reality," the state's coroner has stated.

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

Demographic Details and Academic Response

The mean age of those who died was 45 years, and eleven of the individuals were still waiting for a court sentencing.

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the figures as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that needs "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several coronial inquests with grieving families, said very little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this crisis.

"It's maddening to see the quantity of investigations I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are 30 years past the inquiry, and the problem is getting increasingly more severe," she commented.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a approximately 600 Indigenous people have died in detention, which includes six in youth detention, according to the findings.