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The number of Indigenous people dying while in detention in Australia has reached its highest point since the beginning of official data began in 1980.

Recently released statistics show that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in detention in the 12-month period ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an rise from 24 fatalities in the previous corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain disproportionately overrepresented in the justice system. They constitute over 33% of all prisoners, despite comprising less than four per cent of the country's people.

These sobering figures come to light more than three decades after a seminal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made hundreds of proposed changes.

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Figures

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

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

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

The main cause of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-harm," with "natural causes." The report found that hanging was the cause in eight of the deaths.

Geographic Breakdown

The state of New South Wales recorded 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 New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing milestone," the state's coroner recently said.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this rising pattern was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful scrutiny, dignity and accountability."

Demographic Details and Academic Reaction

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

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

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple official inquiries with bereaved families, said very little has changed since the 1991 national inquiry that was established to tackle this issue.

"It's infuriating to see the quantity of investigations I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades past the royal commission, and the situation is getting increasingly worse," she noted.

Since the royal commission, a approximately 600 First Nations people have lost their lives in detention, which includes six in juvenile detention centers, according to the report.