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The count of Indigenous people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has reached its record point since records began in 1980.

Recently released figures reveal that 33 of the 113 people who died in detention in the year ending in June have been identified as Indigenous. This marks an uptick from 24 deaths in the previous corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly represented in the justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite comprising under 4% of the national population.

These sobering numbers come to light over three decades after a seminal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made numerous of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

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

One death occurred in youth detention, and all except one of the deceased were men.

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

The leading reason of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," with "natural causes." The report found that asphyxiation was the cause in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Breakdown

The Australian state of New South Wales had the highest number of Aboriginal deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths.

The increasing number of First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing milestone," the state's coroner recently said.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful examination, dignity and responsibility."

Profile Information and Academic Response

The average age of those who died was 45 years, and 11 of the individuals were awaiting a court sentencing.

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the figures as reflecting a "country-wide emergency" that requires "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple official inquiries with bereaved families, said very little has improved since the 1991's royal commission that was established to address this issue.

"It's maddening to see the number of investigations I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years past the inquiry, and the problem is getting progressively more severe," she noted.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in youth detention, as per the report.