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The number of Indigenous people dying while in detention in Australia has reached its peak point since the beginning of records began 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 Indigenous. This represents an increase from 24 fatalities in the previous corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain disproportionately represented in the justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite comprising less than four per cent of the national people.

These concerning figures emerge over three decades after a landmark royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations.

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Statistics

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, 26 occurred while in prison custody, which is an rise from 18 in the previous year.

A single death was in youth detention, and all except one of the individuals were male.

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

The leading cause of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-inflicted," with "natural causes." The data noted that hanging was the cause in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Distribution

The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the highest 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 rising number of Indigenous deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing milestone," the state's coroner recently remarked.

In October, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful scrutiny, respect and responsibility."

Demographic Details and Expert Reaction

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

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

Ms. Porter, who has been present at several coronial inquests with bereaved families, said little has improved since the 1991's royal commission that aimed to tackle this crisis.

"It's infuriating to see the quantity of investigations I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the fact 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 Indigenous people have lost their lives in detention, which includes six in youth detention, according to the report.