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The tally of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has climbed to its record point since the beginning of records began in 1980.

Fresh figures indicate that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in custody in the year ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an rise from 24 deaths in the prior equivalent period.

Indigenous Australian people remain severely represented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite comprising under 4% of the country's people.

These sobering figures come to light more than three decades after a landmark inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made hundreds of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, 26 took place while in prison custody, which is an increase from 18 in the previous year.

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

The other six fatalities happened in the custody of law enforcement, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The primary reason of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-harm," with "natural causes." The report found that hanging was the method in eight of the deaths.

Geographic Breakdown

The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Aboriginal deaths in prison custody with nine, then 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 this state is a "deeply distressing tragedy," the state's coroner has said.

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

Demographic Details and Expert Reaction

The average age of those who died was 45, and eleven of the individuals were awaiting a sentence.

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

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, said little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that was established to tackle this issue.

"It's maddening to witness the quantity of inquests I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades past the royal commission, and the problem is getting increasingly worse," she noted.

Since the royal commission, a approximately 600 Indigenous people have died in custody, which includes six in youth detention, as per the findings.