UPDATE: A startling report reveals that 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals have died in custody in New South Wales (NSW) so far in 2025, marking the highest number recorded in a single year for any state in Australia. This grim milestone has triggered an urgent response from the state’s coroner, Teresa O’Sullivan, who described the situation as “profoundly distressing.”
In a powerful open letter released Wednesday, O’Sullivan emphasized, “These are not mere statistics. Each of these deaths represents a person whose life mattered and whose loss is felt deeply by families, loved ones, and communities across the state.” This urgent statement comes amidst rising concerns over the treatment of Indigenous peoples within the justice system.
Karly Warner, CEO of the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), condemned the record number of deaths, declaring it a “horrifying record” for which the NSW government should be “absolutely ashamed.” She stated, “This is a crisis and a preventable tragedy that should deeply alarm everyone in NSW. A prison sentence should not be a death sentence.”
Recent data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reveals that as of June, there are 4,386 Aboriginal adults in custody, representing over one-third of the total adult prison population. This is particularly alarming given that Aboriginal people make up only about 3.5% of the state’s population.
Warner shed light on the systemic issues contributing to these numbers, citing an 18.9% increase in the Aboriginal incarceration rate over the past five years, while the non-Aboriginal population has declined by 12.5%. “Aboriginal people are more likely to be stopped, searched, and arrested by police compared to non-Indigenous individuals,” she told ABC News Breakfast.
The situation is dire, with nearly half (45.6% percent) of Aboriginal adults in custody currently on remand, awaiting further court outcomes. Notably, the number of Aboriginal individuals on remand has surged by 63% over the same five-year period, exacerbating concerns over the treatment of Indigenous peoples in the justice system.
O’Sullivan pointed out that these figures reflect the “entrenched over-representation of First Nations peoples in the criminal justice system,” arguing that systemic issues are contributing to the increasing number of deaths in custody. The evidence of this crisis compels a call to action from the community and officials alike.
Warner has urged the NSW government to address the “mass incarceration” of Aboriginal people, advocating for better policing practices under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. She criticized the government’s continued focus on punitive laws and policing that drive more Aboriginal individuals into prison rather than preventing their incarceration in the first place.
As this crisis unfolds, the NSW government faces mounting pressure to implement meaningful reforms to address these alarming trends. The urgent situation requires immediate attention and action to prevent further loss of life and ensure justice for Indigenous communities across the state.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops, and share widely to raise awareness of this critical issue impacting the lives of so many in NSW.
