đź”— Share this article Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in the Nation Climb to Record Level Since the Start of 1980 Indigenous detainees account for more than a third of the country's total prison population. The tally of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has reached its highest point since the beginning of records began in 1980. Fresh data reveal that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in detention in the 12-month period ending in June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an rise from 24 deaths in the prior corresponding period. Indigenous Australian people are severely overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, even though comprising less than four per cent of the country's people. These disturbing numbers come to light more than three decades after a seminal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of recommendations. Breakdown of the Latest Statistics Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, twenty-six took place while in prison custody, which is an rise from 18 in the previous year. A single death occurred in youth detention, and the vast majority of the individuals were male. The other six fatalities took place in the custody of law enforcement, defined as when someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them. The leading reason of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," with "illness." The data found that hanging was the cause in eight of the cases. State-by-State Breakdown The state of New South Wales had the highest number of Indigenous deaths in correctional facilities with nine, followed by Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths. The increasing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing tragedy," the state's coroner has said. In a recent statement, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful scrutiny, dignity and responsibility." Profile Details and Expert Response The average age of those who died was 45 years, and eleven of the deceased were awaiting a court sentencing. A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the figures as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that needs "decisive action and political action." Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple official inquiries with grieving families, said little has improved since the 1991's royal commission that aimed to address this crisis. "It's heartbreaking to witness the number of inquests I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years past the royal commission, and the situation is getting increasingly worse," she commented. Since the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 First Nations people have died in detention, which includes six in youth detention, as per the findings.