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The tally of First Nations people dying while in detention in Australia has hit its peak point since records started in 1980.

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

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They constitute over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite comprising less than four per cent of the country's people.

These concerning numbers come to light over three decades after a seminal royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, twenty-six took place while in a correctional facility, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year.

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

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

The main cause of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-harm," followed by "illness." The report found that asphyxiation was the method in eight of the deaths.

Geographic Breakdown

The state of New South Wales recorded the highest number of Indigenous 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 New South Wales is a "deeply distressing tragedy," the state's coroner recently said.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this rising trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful examination, dignity and accountability."

Profile Details and Expert Response

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

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the data as reflecting a "national emergency" that requires "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple official inquiries with bereaved families, stated little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to tackle this crisis.

"It's maddening to see the number of inquests I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades after the royal commission, and the problem is getting increasingly worse," she noted.

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