(MENAFN) Australia's New South Wales (NSW) has witnessed an unprecedented number of deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals in custody this year, prompting national concern, according to local sources.

As reported on Wednesday by a news agency, this marks the highest tally of such incidents ever recorded in the state.

To date, 12 Indigenous individuals have died while in custody in 2025, the news agency noted, referencing information from NSW State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan.

In a rare move, O’Sullivan released a public statement addressing the tragic trend, labeling it a “profoundly distressing milestone.”

She emphasized the persistent and “entrenched over-representation” of First Nations people in the state’s correctional facilities.

"They are individuals whose deaths demand independent and careful scrutiny, respect and accountability," O’Sullivan stated, underscoring the need for transparent investigations into these incidents.

Data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research showed that, as of March 2025, 4,244 Aboriginal adults were incarcerated—making up 32.4% of the total adult prison population.

The bureau highlighted a concerning trend: over the past five years, the number of incarcerated Aboriginal individuals rose by 18.9%, climbing from 3,568 in March 2020 to 4,244 in March 2025.

In contrast, the non-Indigenous prison population saw a decline of 12.5%, dropping from 9,877 to 8,644 over the same period.

The Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited, an organization led by the community, described the latest figures as a "horrifying record" in its official response, reinforcing the growing calls for systemic reform and greater accountability.

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