Indigenous Deaths in Custody in Australia Hit 40-Year High

A new report reveals a sharp and troubling increase in deaths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australian prisons. Thirty-three Indigenous people died in custody during the 2024–25 period. This figure is nearly double the long-term average and is the highest number recorded in a single year in four decades. The report highlights the ongoing crisis of overrepresentation. Indigenous Australians make up a small percentage of the national population but are imprisoned at a much higher rate. The findings have sparked urgent calls for government action. Community leaders and advocates are demanding immediate reforms to address systemic failures in the justice system.