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The number of First Nations people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has reached its highest point since official data started in 1980.

New statistics show that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in detention in the 12-month period ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an increase from 24 deaths in the previous corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people remain grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all prisoners, despite comprising less than four per cent of the national population.

These disturbing figures come to light over three decades after a seminal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made hundreds of proposed changes.

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Figures

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 previous year.

One death was in a juvenile facility, and the vast majority of the individuals were men.

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

The leading cause of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-inflicted," followed by "natural causes." The data found that asphyxiation was the method in eight of the cases.

Geographic Breakdown

The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Indigenous deaths in prison custody with nine, followed by 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 New South Wales is a "deeply distressing reality," the state's coroner recently said.

In a recent statement, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this rising pattern was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful examination, dignity and accountability."

Demographic Information and Expert Reaction

The average age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the individuals were still waiting for a court sentencing.

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, described the data as representing a "national crisis" that requires "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at several coronial inquests with bereaved families, stated very little has changed since the 1991 royal commission that was established to tackle this issue.

"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 situation is getting progressively more severe," she noted.

From the time of the royal commission, a total of 600 First Nations people have lost their lives in detention, which encompasses six in youth detention, according to the findings.