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The number of First Nations people dying while in detention in Australia has reached its peak point since the beginning of official data began in 1980.

Recently released statistics show that 33 of the 113 people who died in detention in the year ending in June have been identified as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an uptick from 24 deaths in the prior equivalent period.

Indigenous Australian people are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. They make up more than one-third of all prisoners, despite representing under 4% of the country's population.

These sobering figures emerge more than three decades after a landmark inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Recent Statistics

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

One death occurred in a juvenile facility, and all except one of the individuals were men.

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

The primary reason of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," with "natural causes." The report noted that asphyxiation was the cause 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, followed by 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 chief medical examiner has stated.

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

Profile Information and Academic Response

The average age of those who died was 45 years, and 11 of the deceased were still waiting for a court sentencing.

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the figures as representing a "national crisis" that needs "leadership and government action."

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

"It's maddening to see the number of investigations I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades past the inquiry, and the situation is getting increasingly more severe," she noted.

From the time of the royal commission, a approximately 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in youth detention, according to the findings.