đź”— Share this article Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in the Nation Hit Record Level Since 1980 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees account for more than a third of Australia's total prison inmates. The count of First Nations people losing their lives while in detention in Australia has climbed to its highest point since records began in 1980. New data indicate that 33 of the 113 people who died in custody in the 12-month period leading up to June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an rise from 24 deaths in the preceding equivalent period. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain severely overrepresented in the justice system. They make up more than one-third of all prisoners, despite comprising less than four per cent of the country's population. These concerning numbers come to light over three decades after a seminal royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of proposed changes. Detailed Analysis of the Recent Statistics Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, 26 occurred while in prison custody, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year. A single death occurred in a juvenile facility, and all except one of the individuals were men. The remaining six fatalities took place in the custody of law enforcement, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them. The leading cause of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," followed by "illness." The report found that hanging was the method in eight of the deaths. State-by-State Breakdown The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Indigenous deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths. The growing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing milestone," the state's chief medical examiner recently remarked. In October, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful examination, dignity and accountability." Profile Information and Academic Reaction The average age of those who died was 45 years, and 11 of the deceased were awaiting a court sentencing. A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as representing a "national emergency" that needs "decisive action and government action." Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple coronial inquests with grieving families, said little has changed since the 1991's royal commission that was established to tackle this crisis. "It's infuriating to witness the quantity of inquests I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years past the inquiry, and the problem is getting progressively more severe," she noted. From the time of the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 First Nations people have died in detention, which includes six in juvenile detention centers, according to the findings.