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The tally of First Nations people dying while in custody in Australia has hit its highest point since the beginning of official data started in 1980.

New figures show that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in custody in the 12-month period ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an increase from 24 deaths in the previous equivalent period.

Indigenous Australian people are grossly represented in the criminal justice system. They make up more than one-third of all prisoners, despite representing less than four per cent of the national population.

These disturbing figures come to light over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Figures

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, 26 occurred while in a correctional facility, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year.

One death was in youth detention, and the vast majority of the deceased were men.

The remaining six deaths happened in police custody, defined as when someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The primary cause of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," followed by "natural causes." The report found that hanging was the cause in eight of the cases.

State-by-State Breakdown

The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Indigenous deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths.

The rising number of First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing reality," the state's coroner recently stated.

In a recent statement, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this upward pattern was not "just statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful scrutiny, respect and responsibility."

Demographic Information and Academic Response

The mean age of those who died was 45, and eleven of the deceased were awaiting a court sentencing.

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

Ms. Porter, who has attended several coronial inquests with grieving families, said very little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this issue.

"It's infuriating to see the quantity of investigations I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are 30 years after the inquiry, and the situation is getting progressively worse," she noted.

Since the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 Indigenous people have died in detention, which encompasses six in juvenile detention centers, as per the findings.