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The number of Indigenous people dying while in detention in Australia has hit its highest point since the beginning of records began in 1980.

Recently released figures indicate 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 uptick from 24 deaths in the preceding corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people are grossly overrepresented in the justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all prisoners, even though comprising under 4% of the national people.

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 Statistics

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

One death occurred in youth detention, and all except one of the deceased were men.

The other six deaths took place in police custody, defined as when someone dies while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The main reason of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-harm," followed by "illness." The report noted that hanging was the cause in eight of the deaths.

Geographic Distribution

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

The rising number of Indigenous deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "deeply distressing milestone," the state's chief medical examiner has remarked.

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful examination, dignity and responsibility."

Profile Information and Academic Response

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

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as reflecting a "national crisis" that requires "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several coronial inquests with grieving families, stated little has changed since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this issue.

"It's heartbreaking to witness the quantity of investigations I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades past the inquiry, and the situation is getting progressively more severe," she commented.

Since the landmark inquiry, a approximately 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which encompasses six in youth detention, as per the report.