NCJ Number
149125
Date Published
1994
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper presents information on the deaths that occurred in police and prison custody throughout Australia during the 12 months to June 30, 1993, as well as summary data on the whole period since 1980.
Abstract
During the period analyzed, 72 deaths occurred in custody. Forty-two of these deaths occurred in prison custody, and the remainder occurred in police custody. No deaths were reported in the custody of the juvenile justice authorities. As in previous years, Aboriginal people were overrepresented in the number of custodial deaths. Six Aboriginal people died in custody in the 1992-93 year. The 72 custodial deaths is substantially higher than the total number reported in each of the previous two years. The increase has occurred entirely among non-Aboriginal people. The ages of those who died ranged from 14 to 77 years, averaging 34 years. Approximately half of the deaths were reported as self-inflicted. The most frequent manner of death for both indigenous and nonindigenous people was hanging (24 deaths), followed in frequency by deaths from illness and gunshot, with smaller numbers accounted for by other causes. 11 tables, 4 figures, and 5 references