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The number of Indigenous people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has hit its record point since the beginning of official data started in 1980.

Recently released figures indicate that 33 of the 113 people who died in custody in the 12-month period ending in June have been identified as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an rise from 24 fatalities in the prior corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people remain grossly represented in the justice system. They make up over 33% of all prisoners, even though comprising under 4% of the country's people.

These concerning figures come to light over three decades after a seminal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of proposed changes.

Detailed Analysis of the Latest Figures

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

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

The remaining six deaths took place in the custody of law enforcement, defined as when someone dies while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The leading reason of First Nations deaths was classified as "self-inflicted," with "natural causes." The report noted that asphyxiation was the cause in eight of the cases.

State-by-State Distribution

The Australian state of New South Wales had the highest 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 growing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing tragedy," the state's coroner recently said.

In October, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this rising trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful scrutiny, respect and responsibility."

Profile Details and Academic Response

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

A university expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as reflecting a "national emergency" that requires "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several coronial inquests with bereaved families, said little has improved since the 1991's national inquiry that was established to tackle this crisis.

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

Since the royal commission, a approximately 600 First Nations people have lost their lives in custody, which encompasses six in youth detention, according to the report.