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The number of Indigenous people losing their lives while in detention in Australia has climbed to its highest point since records began in 1980.

New figures indicate that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in custody in the year ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an rise from 24 deaths in the prior equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up more than one-third of all prisoners, even though comprising under 4% of the country's people.

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

Detailed Analysis of the Latest Statistics

Of the 33 Indigenous 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 prior year.

A single death was in a juvenile facility, and the vast majority of the individuals were men.

The other six deaths took place in police custody, defined as a situation where someone dies while police are detaining them.

The leading cause of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-harm," with "natural causes." The report noted that asphyxiation was the cause in eight of the deaths.

Geographic Distribution

The state of New South Wales had the highest number of Aboriginal deaths in prison custody with nine, followed by 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 New South Wales is a "deeply distressing reality," the state's chief medical examiner has remarked.

In October, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this rising pattern was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful scrutiny, respect and responsibility."

Demographic Details and Expert Response

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

A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as reflecting a "national emergency" that needs "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several coronial inquests with bereaved families, said little has improved since the 1991's royal commission that was established to address this crisis.

"It's maddening to witness the number of inquests I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the fact that we are 30 years after the royal commission, and the situation is getting increasingly worse," she noted.

Since the royal commission, a total of 600 First Nations people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in youth detention, according to the findings.