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The count of Indigenous people dying while in detention in Australia has hit its record point since the beginning of official data started in 1980.

New statistics reveal that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in custody in the year leading up to June have been identified as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an rise from 24 deaths in the previous corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite comprising under 4% of the country's population.

These concerning numbers emerge over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of proposed changes.

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Figures

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 increase from 18 in the previous year.

A single death occurred in a juvenile facility, and the vast majority of the deceased were male.

The other six fatalities happened in police custody, defined as when someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The main cause of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," followed by "illness." The data noted that hanging was the method in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Breakdown

The state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Aboriginal deaths in prison custody with nine, followed by Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths.

The increasing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing milestone," the state's chief medical examiner recently said.

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

Profile Details and Expert Response

The mean age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the individuals were awaiting a court sentencing.

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as representing a "national crisis" that needs "decisive action and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple official inquiries with bereaved families, said very little has improved since the 1991's national inquiry that aimed to tackle this crisis.

"It's heartbreaking to see the quantity of investigations I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades past the royal commission, and the situation is getting progressively worse," she noted.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 First Nations people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in youth detention, as per the findings.