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The tally of First Nations people dying while in detention in Australia has hit its highest point since the beginning of records began in 1980.

Fresh figures indicate that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in custody in the 12-month period leading up to June were Indigenous. This marks an increase from 24 fatalities in the preceding equivalent period.

Indigenous Australian people are grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite representing less than four per cent of the country's population.

These concerning numbers come to light more than three decades after a seminal royal commission into Indigenous deaths in custody, which made numerous of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Latest Statistics

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

One death was in youth detention, and the vast majority of the individuals were male.

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

The main cause of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-inflicted," followed by "illness." The report found that hanging was the cause in eight of the cases.

State-by-State Breakdown

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

The rising number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing tragedy," the state's chief medical examiner has remarked.

In October, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this rising trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful examination, dignity and accountability."

Demographic Information and Academic Response

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

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as reflecting a "country-wide emergency" that needs "decisive action and political action."

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

"It's heartbreaking to witness the number of investigations I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades after the inquiry, and the situation is getting progressively more severe," she noted.

From the time of the royal commission, a approximately 600 First Nations people have died in custody, which encompasses six in youth detention, as per the findings.