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The tally of First Nations people dying while in custody in Australia has hit its record point since the beginning of records began in 1980.

Recently released figures show that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in detention in the 12-month period ending in June have been identified as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an uptick from 24 fatalities in the previous corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly represented in the criminal justice system. They make up more than one-third of all incarcerated individuals, even though representing less than four per cent of the country's population.

These concerning numbers emerge more than three decades after a pivotal 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 recorded between last July and this June, twenty-six took place while in a correctional facility, which is an rise from 18 in the previous year.

A single death was in a juvenile facility, and all except one of the individuals were men.

The other six fatalities happened in the custody of law enforcement, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The main cause of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," with "illness." The report noted that hanging was the method in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Breakdown

The state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Aboriginal deaths in prison custody with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths.

The growing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing tragedy," the state's chief medical examiner recently stated.

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

Demographic Information and Expert Reaction

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

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the figures as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that needs "leadership and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple official inquiries with grieving families, stated little has changed since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this issue.

"It's infuriating to see the quantity of investigations I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the fact that we are 30 years past the royal commission, and the situation is getting increasingly worse," she noted.

Since the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 First Nations people have died in custody, which includes six in youth detention, as per the report.