In 1999, 85 people died in police or prison custody—10 fewer than the previous year. The number of deaths in police custody (26) was the second lowest since records were kept and the number of prison deaths overall (59) was down on the previous two years. There was an increase in the number of Indigenous institutional deaths (16), which was the third highest on record—although there were more deaths in 1987 and 1995.
Of the total number of Indigenous deaths (19), 8 were from natural causes and 6 by hanging. Of the total number of non-Indigenous deaths (66), 11 were of natural causes and 23 were by hanging.
This paper updates information on 1998 deaths and longer-term custodial death trends, and highlights some of the changes that have occurred in 1999.