NCJ Number
155574
Date Published
1995
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This report provides narrative information as well as graphic and tabular data on inmate deaths in Australian correctional institutions (prisons and police lockups) and in community settings (primarily custody-related police operations) during 1993 and 1994.
Abstract
During the 12 months from June 30, 1993, through June 30, 1994, 83 deaths in custody were reported. Fifty-seven of these deaths (69 percent) occurred in prison custody, and 24 deaths (29 percent) occurred in police custody. Two deaths were reported to have occurred in the custody of juvenile justice authorities. All but 10 of those who died were males. As in previous years, Aboriginal people were overrepresented in the number of custodial deaths compared with the number of Aboriginal people in the community. The ages of those who died ranged from 16 to 73 years, averaging 35 years. Forty-three percent of the deaths were self- inflicted. Information on the cause and manner of death was available at the time of writing for all but three cases. The most frequent manner of death for non-Aboriginal people was hanging, followed in frequency by deaths from illness and by gunshot, with smaller numbers accounted for by other causes. Illness was the dominant cause of death among Aboriginal people in custody. Information is also provided on offenses for which the decedents were in custody. The number of deaths during the 1993-94 fiscal year was substantially higher than the number reported in any of the previous three fiscal years. 11 tables, 4 figures, and 8 references