Objective: To assess the risks of death in police or prison custody in Australia for Aborigines and non-Aborigines.
Design, setting and participants: Retrospective collection and analysis of data about deaths occurring in police or prison custody in Australia in the 10-year period 1980-1989.
Results: For the period 1980-1989, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in prison had risks of death similar to those of the total Australian population, but the risks of death in police custody for both Aborigines and non-Aborigines were between 10 and 20 times the risks of death experienced by the general population. Within each type of custody, there were no significant differences in the risks of death experienced by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
Conclusion: Although some deaths in custody are inevitable, the very much higher risks of death in police custody for both Aborigines and non-Aborigines has implications for custodial authorities in terms of preventive and remedial action. Reduction of the excess of Aboriginal over non-Aboriginal deaths in police and prison custody relative to general population figures requires action to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal people in custody and to improve the general well-being and health status of Aboriginal people in the community.