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The tally of Indigenous people losing their lives while in detention in Australia has reached its record point since the beginning of official data started in 1980.

Fresh figures indicate that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in detention in the 12-month period leading up to June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an uptick from 24 deaths in the prior corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly 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 come to light over three decades after a seminal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations.

Detailed Analysis of the Latest Statistics

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, 26 occurred while in a correctional facility, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year.

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

The other six deaths happened in police custody, defined as when someone dies while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

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

Geographic Breakdown

The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the highest number of Aboriginal deaths in correctional facilities with nine, followed by Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths.

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

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths demanded "thorough and careful scrutiny, dignity and accountability."

Demographic Information and Academic Response

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

A university expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that requires "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, said very little has improved since the 1991 national inquiry that was established to address this issue.

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

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