The number of First Nations people losing their lives while in detention in Australia has hit its peak point since the beginning of official data began in 1980.
New statistics show that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in custody in the year leading up to June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an increase from 24 deaths in the prior corresponding period.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all prisoners, even though comprising less than four per cent of the national population.
These sobering statistics emerge over three decades after a seminal royal commission into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.
Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, twenty-six took place while in a correctional facility, which is an increase from 18 in the previous year.
One death was in youth detention, and all except one of the deceased were male.
The other six deaths took place in the custody of law enforcement, defined as when someone dies while police are detaining them.
The main reason of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-harm," with "natural causes." The data found that hanging was the method in eight of the deaths.
The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the highest 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 rising number of First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing reality," the state's coroner recently stated.
In a recent statement, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this rising pattern was not "just statistics" and that these deaths demanded "thorough and careful examination, respect and responsibility."
The mean age of those who died was 45 years, and eleven of the individuals were still waiting for a sentence.
A university expert, Amanda Porter, described the figures as reflecting a "country-wide emergency" that needs "decisive action and government action."
Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple coronial inquests with grieving families, stated very little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this crisis.
"It's heartbreaking to witness the number of investigations I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades after the royal commission, and the situation is getting increasingly more severe," she commented.
From the time of the royal commission, a total of 600 First Nations people have lost their lives in custody, which encompasses six in youth detention, as per the report.
