🔗 Share this article

The number of First Nations people losing their lives while in detention in Australia has climbed to its highest point since records began in 1980.

Fresh statistics show that 33 of the 113 people who died in detention in the 12-month period ending in June were Indigenous. This represents an rise from 24 fatalities in the prior corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people remain disproportionately overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all prisoners, despite representing less than four per cent of the country's population.

These sobering statistics come to light over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

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

A single death occurred in a juvenile facility, and the vast majority of the individuals were men.

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

The main reason of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," with "natural causes." The data noted that hanging was the method in eight of the cases.

Geographic Distribution

The state of New South Wales had 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 rising number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing tragedy," the state's coroner has stated.

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

Demographic Details and Academic Reaction

The mean age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the deceased were awaiting a court sentencing.

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the figures as reflecting a "country-wide emergency" that requires "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at several official inquiries with grieving families, said very little has changed since the 1991 national inquiry that aimed to tackle this crisis.

"It's infuriating to see the number of investigations I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades after the inquiry, and the problem is getting progressively more severe," she noted.

Since the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 First Nations people have died in custody, which encompasses six in juvenile detention centers, as per the report.