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The tally of Indigenous people losing their lives while in detention in Australia has climbed to its peak point since records began in 1980.

Fresh data reveal that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in detention in the 12-month period ending in June were Indigenous. This marks an rise from 24 fatalities in the previous equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly represented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, even though representing under 4% of the national people.

These sobering figures come to light over three decades after a seminal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.

Detailed Analysis of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, twenty-six occurred 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 remaining six fatalities took place in police custody, defined as a situation where someone dies while police are detaining them.

The main reason of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," with "natural causes." The data found that asphyxiation was the method in eight of the deaths.

Geographic Distribution

The state of New South Wales had the highest number of Aboriginal 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 rising number of Indigenous deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "deeply distressing milestone," the state's coroner recently said.

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

Demographic Information and Expert Reaction

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

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the figures as reflecting a "national emergency" that requires "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, said very little has changed since the 1991's royal commission that aimed to address this crisis.

"It's maddening to witness the number of investigations I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades past the royal commission, and the problem is getting increasingly more severe," she noted.

Since the royal commission, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which encompasses six in juvenile detention centers, according to the findings.