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The number 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.

Recently released figures indicate that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in custody in the 12-month period ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an uptick from 24 deaths in the preceding equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all prisoners, despite representing under 4% of the national population.

These sobering statistics emerge more than three decades after a pivotal royal commission into Indigenous deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Recent Figures

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

One death occurred in youth detention, and all except one of the individuals were male.

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

The main reason of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-harm," with "illness." The data found that hanging was the method in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Breakdown

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

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

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

Demographic Information and Academic Reaction

The average age of those who died was 45 years, and 11 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 several official inquiries with grieving families, said little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this crisis.

"It's infuriating to see the quantity of inquests I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years after the inquiry, and the problem is getting increasingly more severe," she commented.

Since the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in detention, which includes six in juvenile detention centers, as per the report.