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The count of First Nations people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has hit its highest point since the beginning of records started in 1980.

New data indicate that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in detention in the 12-month period leading up to June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an uptick from 24 fatalities in the prior equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly represented in the justice system. They constitute over 33% of all prisoners, even though comprising less than four per cent of the country's people.

These disturbing numbers come to light over three decades after a landmark inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

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

One death occurred in youth detention, and the vast majority of the individuals were men.

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

The leading reason of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-harm," followed by "natural causes." The report noted that asphyxiation was the method in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Distribution

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

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful examination, dignity and responsibility."

Demographic Information and Academic Response

The average age of those who died was 45 years, and eleven of the individuals were still waiting for a court sentencing.

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the data as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that needs "decisive action and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple official inquiries with bereaved families, said very little has changed since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this crisis.

"It's infuriating to see the number 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 more severe," she commented.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 Indigenous people have died in detention, which includes six in youth detention, as per the findings.