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The number of Indigenous people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has climbed to its record point since the beginning of records began in 1980.

Fresh statistics reveal that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in custody in the year ending in June have been identified as Indigenous. This marks an increase from 24 deaths in the prior equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain severely overrepresented in the justice system. They constitute over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite representing under 4% of the national population.

These sobering figures come to light over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Aboriginal 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 previous year.

One death was in a juvenile facility, and the vast majority of the deceased were male.

The other six fatalities happened in the custody of law enforcement, defined as when someone dies while police are detaining them.

The leading reason of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-inflicted," with "natural causes." The report noted that asphyxiation 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 First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing reality," the state's coroner has remarked.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward pattern was not "just statistics" and that these deaths demanded "thorough and careful scrutiny, dignity and responsibility."

Profile Information and Expert Response

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

A university expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the figures as reflecting a "national crisis" that needs "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at several official inquiries with bereaved families, said very little has improved since the 1991's national inquiry that was established to address this issue.

"It's infuriating to witness the number of investigations I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the fact that we are 30 years past the inquiry, and the problem is getting progressively worse," she noted.

Since the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 Indigenous people have died in detention, which includes six in youth detention, according to the findings.