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The tally of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has hit its highest point since the beginning of records started in 1980.

Recently released figures show that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in custody in the 12-month period ending in June have been identified as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an increase from 24 deaths in the preceding equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain severely overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up more than one-third of all incarcerated individuals, despite comprising under 4% of the national population.

These sobering figures come to light more than three decades after a pivotal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made hundreds of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Recent Statistics

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

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

The other six deaths happened in police custody, defined as when someone passes away while police are detaining them.

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

State-by-State Distribution

The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Indigenous 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 growing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "deeply distressing milestone," the state's chief medical examiner recently stated.

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this rising trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful examination, dignity and accountability."

Demographic Details and Academic Reaction

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

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, described the data as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that requires "leadership and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several official inquiries with bereaved families, said very little has changed since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to tackle this issue.

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

Since the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in detention, which encompasses six in juvenile detention centers, according to the findings.