🔗 Share this article

The count of Indigenous people losing their lives while in detention in Australia has hit its record point since records began in 1980.

Recently released data reveal that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in detention in the year ending in June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an uptick from 24 deaths in the previous corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people are grossly represented in the criminal justice system. They constitute over 33% of all prisoners, despite comprising under 4% of the country's population.

These disturbing statistics come to light more than three decades after a seminal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of proposed changes.

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Figures

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, 26 took place while in prison custody, which is an increase from 18 in the previous year.

A single death was in youth detention, and the vast majority of the individuals were men.

The remaining six deaths took place in the custody of law enforcement, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are detaining them.

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

Geographic Breakdown

The state of New South Wales recorded the highest number of Indigenous deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths.

The growing number of First Nations deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing reality," the state's coroner recently said.

In a recent statement, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "thorough and careful examination, dignity and responsibility."

Profile Details and Expert Reaction

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

A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the figures as reflecting a "national emergency" that needs "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, stated little has improved since the 1991's national inquiry that aimed to address this issue.

"It's maddening to witness the number of investigations 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 increasingly more severe," she commented.

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