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The tally of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has hit its peak point since the beginning of records began in 1980.

New figures show that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in detention in the year leading up to June were Indigenous. This marks an increase from 24 deaths in the previous equivalent period.

Indigenous Australian people remain severely represented in the justice system. They make up more than one-third of all incarcerated individuals, despite representing less than four per cent of the country's people.

These concerning statistics come to light more than three decades after a pivotal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Recent Figures

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, twenty-six took place while in a correctional facility, which is an rise from 18 in the prior year.

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

The remaining six deaths took place in the custody of law enforcement, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are detaining them.

The leading cause of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-harm," followed by "natural causes." The report found that asphyxiation was the cause in eight of the cases.

Geographic 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 "profoundly distressing milestone," the state's coroner recently said.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this rising trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful scrutiny, dignity and accountability."

Profile Details and Expert Reaction

The mean age of those who died was 45 years, and eleven of the deceased were awaiting a court sentencing.

A university expert, Amanda Porter, described the figures as representing a "country-wide 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 national inquiry that was established to address this crisis.

"It's heartbreaking to see the number of investigations I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades past the royal commission, and the situation is getting progressively worse," she noted.

Since the landmark inquiry, a approximately 600 First Nations people have died in custody, which includes six in juvenile detention centers, as per the report.