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The tally of First Nations people dying while in custody in Australia has reached its highest point since records began in 1980.

New data show that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in custody in the year leading up to June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an uptick from 24 fatalities in the prior corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are severely represented in the justice system. They constitute over 33% of all prisoners, even though representing less than four per cent of the country's people.

These disturbing statistics come to light over three decades after a pivotal royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Statistics

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody logged 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 a juvenile facility, 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 detaining them.

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

Geographic Distribution

The state of New South Wales had 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 all recorded three deaths.

The increasing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "deeply distressing reality," the state's chief medical examiner recently said.

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

Demographic Details and Expert Reaction

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

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as representing a "national crisis" that requires "leadership and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several coronial inquests with grieving families, stated very little has changed since the 1991's royal commission that aimed to tackle this crisis.

"It's heartbreaking to witness the quantity of inquests I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades after the royal commission, and the problem is getting progressively worse," she noted.

Since the royal commission, a approximately 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in youth detention, as per the findings.