🔗 Share this article

The count of First Nations people dying while in detention in Australia has reached its peak point since records started in 1980.

New statistics indicate that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in detention in the year ending in June were Indigenous. This marks an uptick from 24 deaths in the prior corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people are disproportionately overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, even though representing less than four per cent of the national population.

These concerning numbers come to light over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Recent Statistics

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 rise from 18 in the previous year.

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

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

The leading cause of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-harm," followed by "illness." The data noted that asphyxiation was the method in eight of the cases.

Geographic Distribution

The state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Aboriginal deaths in prison custody with nine, then 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 this state is a "profoundly distressing tragedy," the state's coroner has stated.

In a recent statement, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this rising trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful scrutiny, dignity and responsibility."

Demographic Information and Expert Response

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

A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as representing a "national emergency" that needs "decisive action and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several coronial inquests with bereaved families, said little has improved since the 1991's national inquiry that aimed to tackle this crisis.

"It's infuriating to witness the quantity of investigations I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades after the inquiry, and the problem is getting progressively worse," she noted.

Since the landmark inquiry, a approximately 600 First Nations people have died in detention, which includes six in youth detention, as per the findings.