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

Recently released data reveal that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in detention in the year ending in June have been identified as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an rise from 24 deaths in the previous equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain disproportionately overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They constitute over 33% of all prisoners, despite comprising under 4% of the national people.

These concerning figures emerge more than three decades after a seminal royal commission into Indigenous deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations.

Detailed Analysis of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, 26 occurred while in a correctional facility, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year.

A single death was in a juvenile facility, and all except one of the individuals were male.

The remaining six deaths took place in police custody, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are detaining them.

The main reason of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," followed by "natural causes." The data found that hanging was the cause in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Breakdown

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

The rising number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing tragedy," the state's chief medical examiner recently remarked.

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward pattern was not "just statistics" and that these deaths demanded "thorough and careful scrutiny, respect and responsibility."

Demographic Details and Academic Reaction

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

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, described the figures as reflecting a "national emergency" that needs "leadership and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several official inquiries with bereaved families, said very little has changed since the 1991's national inquiry that was established to address this issue.

"It's heartbreaking to see the quantity of investigations I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years after the inquiry, and the problem is getting increasingly more severe," she commented.

From the time of the royal commission, a total of 600 First Nations people have died in custody, which includes six in youth detention, as per the report.