The tally of Indigenous people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has hit its record point since the beginning of official data started in 1980.
Fresh data indicate that 33 of the 113 people 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 uptick from 24 deaths in the preceding corresponding period.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are severely overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They constitute over 33% of all prisoners, even though representing under 4% of the national population.
These disturbing statistics come to light over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of proposed changes.
Of the 33 Indigenous 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 men.
The other six deaths happened in the custody of law enforcement, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are detaining them.
The primary reason of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," 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 correctional facilities with nine, followed by Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths.
The increasing number of First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing tragedy," the state's chief medical examiner recently said.
In October, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful examination, respect and accountability."
The mean age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the deceased were still waiting for a sentence.
A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as representing a "national crisis" that requires "decisive action and government action."
Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple official inquiries with grieving families, said little has changed since the 1991's royal commission that aimed to address this crisis.
"It's maddening to witness the number of inquests I attend, the number 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 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, according to the findings.
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