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

Fresh figures reveal that 33 of the 113 people who died in custody in the 12-month period leading up to June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an uptick from 24 fatalities in the previous corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people are disproportionately represented in the justice system. They make up more than one-third of all prisoners, despite comprising less than four per cent of the country's people.

These concerning statistics come to light over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Statistics

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, twenty-six took place while in prison custody, 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 male.

The remaining 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 reason of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-inflicted," with "illness." The report noted that hanging was the cause in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Distribution

The state of New South Wales had the greatest number of Aboriginal 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 New South Wales is a "deeply distressing tragedy," the state's coroner recently stated.

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful examination, dignity and accountability."

Profile Details and Expert Reaction

The mean age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the deceased were still waiting for a sentence.

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, described the figures as reflecting a "national emergency" that needs "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, stated very little has changed since the 1991's royal commission that aimed to tackle this crisis.

"It's infuriating to witness the number of investigations I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades after the inquiry, and the problem is getting progressively more severe," she commented.

From the time of the royal commission, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in juvenile detention centers, as per the report.