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

Fresh statistics indicate that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in custody in the 12-month period ending in June have been identified as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an increase from 24 deaths in the preceding equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain disproportionately overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all prisoners, despite comprising less than four per cent of the country's population.

These sobering numbers emerge more than three decades after a pivotal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which made hundreds of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, 26 took place while in a correctional facility, which is an rise from 18 in the previous year.

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

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

The leading cause of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-harm," with "illness." The data found that asphyxiation was the method in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Breakdown

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

The rising number of Indigenous deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing reality," the state's chief medical examiner recently stated.

In October, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful examination, respect and responsibility."

Profile Details and Expert Response

The mean age of those who died was 45 years, and 11 of the deceased were awaiting a court sentencing.

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

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple official inquiries with grieving families, said very little has changed since the 1991's royal commission that was established to tackle this issue.

"It's heartbreaking to see the number of inquests I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years after the royal commission, and the situation is getting increasingly more severe," she commented.

From the time of the royal commission, a total of 600 First Nations people have died in custody, which includes six in juvenile detention centers, according to the report.