Qld deaths in custody hit 20-year high amid calls for urgent action

The state’s human rights commissioner has called for urgent action as a shocking new report blows open the state of our jails.

The Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre west of Brisbane (File picture)

The state’s human rights commissioner has called for urgent action as a shocking new report shows Queensland has recorded the highest number of deaths in prison in more than 20 years.

According to the Australian Institute of Criminology’s latest Deaths in Custody report, Queensland has recorded 19 deaths in prison in the 2023-24 financial year – the highest in the state since 1998.

Queensland has also recorded the highest number of deaths in police custody in the country this year with eight deaths – the majority of these shootings.

The sobering data has been described as alarming by Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall, who called for a comprehensive response from government.

Of the 19 deaths in prisons in Queensland, 14 were non-Indigenous and five people were Indigenous – the equal highest number of Indigenous deaths in prison with Western Australia.

About half of Indigenous people who died in jail last year took their own lives.

Mr McDougall said urgent action was needed to address these risks.

“Any death in custody is a tragedy,” Mr McDougall said.

“When it comes to First Nations detainees specifically, urgent and critical actions need to be taken which recognise the inherent risks of the continued over-incarceration of First Nations people.

“A comprehensive plan needs to be developed in genuine partnership with First Nations communities.

“The absence of a formal mechanism of engagement between Queensland’s First Nations people and the Queensland Government continues to hamper any meaningful progress in the critical areas of policy and service delivery implementation that would reduce the numbers of deaths in custody.”

For non-Indigenous, 64 per cent died naturally, 30 per cent were self-inflicted and two deaths were murders.

Nationally, 104 deaths were recorded in custody this financial year, including 76 in jail, one young person in detention, and 27 in police custody.

Queensland recorded eight deaths in police custody in 2023-24 – the most in the country.

Nationally, 78 per cent of non-Indigenous deaths in police custody were from gunshot wounds – either in a police shooting or self-inflicted. All Indigenous deaths in police custody this year were declared as “accident” or “other”.

Two-thirds of all deaths in police custody in Australia occurred during close police contact.

Since 1980, 192 people have died in police custody in Queensland – the second highest in the country behind New South Wales (309).

A Queensland police spokeswoman said all deaths in police custody were thoroughly investigated.

“The QPS is committed to continually reviewing and improving policies, procedures and training, including those identified as a result of inquests and inquiries into deaths resulting from a police operation or deaths in custody,” the spokeswoman said.

“The safety and security of all people in police custody is of paramount importance and is a critical element of the watch-house review currently being undertaken by the QPS.”

New South Wales recorded the most deaths in custody with 20 deaths. Tasmania recorded zero.

A Queensland Corrective Services spokeswoman said it took the safety of prisoners seriously.

“Several protective measures are in place to prevent prisoners from harming themselves and others including comprehensive suicide prevention programs to manage acute risk,” the spokeswoman said.

Australian Institute of Criminology deputy director Rick Brown said regular and in-depth reporting of these tragedies hoped to reduce deaths in custody and improve justice outcomes.

“Accurate and policy-relevant research such as this is vital to inform early intervention and prevention strategies, particularly in an effort to reduce the over-incarceration of First Nations people,” Dr Brown said.

The AIC’s National Deaths in Custody Program has monitored the extent and nature of deaths occurring in prison, police custody and youth detention in Australia since 1980, following a recommendation made by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Originally published as Qld deaths in custody hit 20-year high amid calls for urgent action