A record number of First Nations people died in NSW prison custody last year. Advocates fear this year will be worse
Summary
In New South Wales (NSW), Australia, a record number of Indigenous people died in prison last year, with two more Indigenous men dying this July. Advocates warn that the number of deaths in custody this year could be even higher, as the prison population of Indigenous people rises.Key Facts
- Twelve Indigenous people died in NSW prisons in 2025, the highest number on record for the state.
- Two Indigenous men died in custody in July 2026, including Matthew Roberts, who took his own life at Lithgow correctional centre.
- Suicide and self-harm accounted for nearly a quarter of all deaths in custody in NSW.
- The Indigenous prison population is growing, with 41% of new prisoners in early 2026 being First Nations people.
- More than one-third of the total prison population in NSW was Indigenous at the time of a March 2026 report, the highest ever recorded.
- Advocates say the state is facing a “deaths in custody crisis” and fear the number will continue to rise.
- Families of those who died often have to fundraise for funeral costs, which advocates say should not happen when deaths occur under state care.
- The prison system faces complex challenges around mental health care for people in custody.
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