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The number of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has climbed to its highest point since official data started in 1980.

Recently released data show that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in custody in the year leading up to June were Indigenous. This represents an uptick from 24 fatalities in the prior equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all prisoners, despite comprising less than four per cent of the country's people.

These concerning figures come to light over three decades after a pivotal royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Latest Statistics

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, twenty-six occurred while in a correctional facility, which is an increase from 18 in the previous year.

A single death was in youth detention, and all except one of the deceased were men.

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

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

State-by-State Distribution

The state of New South Wales recorded the highest number of Indigenous deaths in correctional facilities with nine, followed by 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 New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing tragedy," the state's chief medical examiner recently said.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this rising pattern was not "just statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful examination, dignity and responsibility."

Profile Details and Academic Response

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

A university expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the figures as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that requires "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, said very little has changed since the 1991's royal commission that was established to tackle this crisis.

"It's infuriating to see the number of inquests I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years after the royal commission, and the problem is getting progressively more severe," she noted.

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