An examination of the number and nature of deaths in prison, police custody and youth detention. The report found 104 deaths in custody in 2023–24, 6 fewer than the previous year. The report provides detailed information on these deaths and compares the findings with longer-term trends.

The report provides detailed information on these deaths, including demographic characteristics, cause and manner of death, and compares the findings with longer-term trends. It also acknowledges the ongoing efforts to reduce deaths in custody, particularly among Indigenous Australians, and calls for continued monitoring and analysis to inform policy and practice.

Key findings

• There were 104 total deaths in custody in 2023–24, 6 fewer than the previous year.
• There were 76 deaths in prison custody, six more than in 2022–23.
• There was one death in youth detention – the first in 14 years. 
• There were 27 deaths in police custody and custody-related operations, 13 fewer than in 2022–23.
• Two-thirds of the deaths in police custody were category 1 deaths, defined as those occurring during close police contact.
• 24 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people died in custody, accounting for 23% of all deaths in custody in 2023–24.