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The number of First Nations people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has hit its highest point since the beginning of records began in 1980.

New statistics show that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in custody in the 12-month period leading up to June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an increase from 24 fatalities in the preceding equivalent period.

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

These disturbing figures emerge more than three decades after a landmark inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, twenty-six occurred while in prison custody, which is an increase from 18 in the previous year.

A single death occurred in youth detention, and all except one of the individuals were male.

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

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

Geographic Breakdown

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

The increasing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing reality," the state's chief medical examiner has said.

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

Demographic Details and Academic Response

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

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the figures as representing a "national crisis" that requires "decisive action and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several official inquiries with grieving 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 investigations I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years past the royal commission, and the problem is getting progressively worse," she commented.

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