Indigenous deaths in custody in Australia hit highest level since 1980

New data reveals Indigenous deaths in custody in Australia have reached a record high since 1980, with 33 deaths recorded in the 12 months leading up to June. This is an increase from 24 deaths in the previous period. Indigenous Australians are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, comprising over a third of the prison population despite being less than four percent of the total population. The majority of Indigenous deaths occurred in prison custody, with "self-inflicted" causes and "natural causes" being the primary factors. New South Wales recorded the highest number of Indigenous deaths in prison. Experts are calling the situation a "national crisis," highlighting the lack of progress since the 1991 Royal Commission into Indigenous deaths in custody.

A recent report by the Australian Institute of Criminology revealed that Indigenous deaths in custody in Australia reached a high of 33 in 2023-2024, the highest number since 1980. The report, released on Wednesday, documented a total of 113 deaths in custody nationally. The widow of an Indigenous man who died in a Western Australian prison in 2023 expressed her disappointment, stating that little has changed to prevent these deaths. The report highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment and safety of First Nations people within the Australian justice system. Support services are available for Indigenous Australians and others affected by these issues.