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The count of Indigenous people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has climbed to its highest point since official data started in 1980.

Fresh data reveal that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in custody in the 12-month period leading up to June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an uptick from 24 deaths in the preceding corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people remain grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all prisoners, despite representing less than four per cent of the national people.

These disturbing numbers come to light over three decades after a pivotal royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations.

Detailed Analysis of the Latest Figures

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 previous year.

One death occurred in a juvenile facility, and the vast majority of the individuals were male.

The remaining six fatalities took place in police custody, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The leading cause of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-harm," with "natural causes." The data found that asphyxiation was the cause in eight of the cases.

State-by-State Distribution

The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the highest number of Indigenous deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths.

The growing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "deeply distressing milestone," the state's coroner has said.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this upward pattern was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful scrutiny, respect and responsibility."

Demographic Details and Expert Reaction

The average age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the individuals were awaiting a sentence.

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, described the data as representing a "national crisis" that needs "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple official inquiries with grieving families, stated little has changed since the 1991's national inquiry that aimed to tackle this issue.

"It's maddening to witness the quantity of inquests I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades after the inquiry, and the situation is getting progressively worse," she noted.

Since the royal commission, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in youth detention, as per the report.