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The tally of Indigenous people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has hit its peak point since official data started in 1980.

New data show that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in detention in the 12-month period ending in June have been identified as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an rise from 24 deaths in the prior equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite comprising under 4% of the country's population.

These disturbing statistics come to light over three decades after a landmark inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which made hundreds of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

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

A single death occurred in youth detention, and the vast majority of the individuals were male.

The remaining six deaths happened in the custody of law enforcement, defined as when someone dies while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The primary cause of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-harm," with "illness." The report found that hanging was the method in eight of the cases.

Geographic Distribution

The state of New South Wales recorded the highest number of Indigenous deaths in prison custody with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths.

The increasing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing milestone," the state's chief medical examiner recently stated.

In a recent statement, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful examination, respect and responsibility."

Profile Information and Academic Response

The average age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the deceased were awaiting a court sentencing.

A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as representing a "national emergency" that needs "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at several coronial inquests with grieving families, said very little has changed since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this crisis.

"It's maddening to witness the quantity of inquests I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades past the inquiry, and the problem is getting increasingly worse," she commented.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a approximately 600 Indigenous people have died in custody, which encompasses six in youth detention, as per the report.