🔗 Share this article Indigenous Deaths in Detention in Australia Reach Highest Level Since the Start of 1980 Indigenous prisoners account for more than a third of Australia's total prison inmates. The tally of Indigenous people dying while in detention in Australia has reached its highest point since official data began in 1980. Recently released figures show that 33 of the 113 people who died in custody in the 12-month period leading up to June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an rise from 24 fatalities in the prior equivalent period. Indigenous Australian people remain grossly overrepresented in the justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all prisoners, even though comprising under 4% of the national population. These concerning figures emerge over three decades after a landmark inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations. Breakdown of the Recent Figures Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, 26 occurred while in prison custody, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year. A single death occurred in youth detention, and all except one of the individuals were men. The remaining six fatalities happened in police custody, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are detaining them. The primary cause of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-inflicted," with "natural causes." The report found that asphyxiation was the method in eight of the cases. Geographic Distribution The Australian state of New South Wales had the greatest number of Aboriginal 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 this state is a "deeply distressing reality," the state's coroner has remarked. In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this upward trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful examination, respect and responsibility." Demographic Details and Expert Reaction The average age of those who died was 45 years, and eleven of the deceased were still waiting for a sentence. A university expert, Amanda Porter, described the figures as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that needs "decisive action and government action." Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple official inquiries with grieving families, said little has improved since the 1991's royal commission that aimed to tackle this crisis. "It's infuriating to witness the number of investigations I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years after the royal commission, and the problem is getting increasingly worse," she noted. Since the royal commission, a total of 600 First Nations people have died in custody, which encompasses six in juvenile detention centers, according to the findings.