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Indigenous Deaths in Custody Surge: A National Crisis
11 Dec
Summary
- Indigenous deaths in custody increased to 33 in the past year.
- Self-inflicted causes led most Indigenous deaths, followed by natural causes.
- New South Wales reported the highest number of Indigenous prison deaths.
The figures reveal a deeply concerning rise in Indigenous deaths within custody, with 33 recorded in the last twelve months. This marks a significant increase from the preceding year, highlighting a worsening trend three decades after a critical inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody. The majority of these tragic incidents, 26 in total, occurred while individuals were incarcerated in prisons.
The report indicates that "self-inflicted" causes were the primary category for these deaths, followed by “natural causes.” Hanging was identified as the cause in eight instances. The state of New South Wales registered the highest number of Indigenous deaths in prison custody, with nine, underscoring the profound distress expressed by officials over this "profoundly distressing milestone."
Experts have labelled the situation a "national crisis" requiring immediate leadership and political intervention. Despite recommendations from a 1991 royal commission aimed at addressing this issue, the number of Indigenous people dying in custody has continued to grow, with 600 recorded since the commission's findings.
