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The tally of First Nations people losing their lives while in detention in Australia has reached its peak point since records started in 1980.

Recently released figures indicate that 33 of the 113 people who passed away 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 deaths in the previous corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly represented in the justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite representing under 4% of the national people.

These disturbing statistics come to light over three decades after a seminal royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which made numerous of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Recent 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 rise from 18 in the previous year.

One death was in youth detention, and all except one of the individuals were men.

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

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

Geographic Breakdown

The Australian state of New South Wales had the highest 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 rising number of First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing tragedy," the state's chief medical examiner has said.

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

Profile Information and Expert Reaction

The average age of those who died was 45, and eleven of the individuals were awaiting a court sentencing.

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as reflecting a "national crisis" that requires "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, stated little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this crisis.

"It's maddening to see the quantity of inquests I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades past the inquiry, and the problem is getting progressively more severe," she commented.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 First Nations people have died in custody, which encompasses six in youth detention, according to the findings.