Black Deaths In Custody

Growing up in an outback town she was exposed to injustice at an early age and set her sights on fighting for the rights of First Nations people. Now a nominee in the Australian Law Awards, the 36-year-old says Australia has the answers to its crippling incarceration issues.

A 26-year-old First Nations inmate referred to as RRC died in his cell at Shortland Correctional Centre at Cessnock in 2021. His inquest hears there were "systemic" failures in the lead-up to his death.

Kamilaroi woman Amber Brown wants the findings of an inquest into her brother's death to prompt the reform of health care for inmates.

The NT Court of Appeal has ruled former police constable Zachary Rolfe will have to give evidence at the coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker.

The Northern Territory Court of Appeal has dismissed former NT Police constable Zachary Rolfe's bid to avoid questions at the coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker.

For the past two weeks, Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has heard horrifying details of the death of a 34-year-old woman. Experts hope it will shine a light on the high rate of domestic, family and sexual violence in the Northern Territory.

Indigenous and non-Indigenous deaths in custody will be reported in real time as part of a federal government attempt to address the number of people dying behind bars.

The Northern Territory coroner is examining the actions of police during a pursuit that resulted in the fatal crash that killed a woman in Darwin’s northern suburbs in 2021.

The family of an Aboriginal man who died in a Cessnock jail cell at 37 years of age in 2021 believe he would still be alive today if he had received correct medical treatment.

The South Australian Deputy Coroner finds there were a "litany of serious failings and shortcomings" in how a first-time Aboriginal inmate was managed in the state's highest security prison and in police cells, where conditions were "barbaric and inhumane".

Stanley Inman Jr's family members say they tried to tell the jail they were concerned for his mental health but there were no effective processes for them to do so.

Desley Ketchup believes her son might still be alive if police had let her or his siblings speak to him during a siege. WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains images and names of people who have died.

The use of controversial spit hoods to block detainees from spitting has been discontinued in most parts of Australia, but WA prisons and police say they need to keep using them.  

Gordon Copeland was 22 years old when he ran from police and fell into the flooded Gwydir River in north-west New South Wales. The coroner says "mistakes were made" in dealing with his family after his death.

The Department of Justice is criticised for not doing enough to act on suggestions that could prevent deaths in custody across Western Australia.

The family of an Aboriginal man who died in police custody has welcomed a ban on the use of chokeholds during arrests, but says there are continued cultural issues between First Nations peoples and police.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has told senior officers to make sure they are not unnecessarily denying bail to marginalised people, as the force accepts all of the recommendations from the coronial inquest into Veronica Nelson's 2020 death in custody.

The 51-year-old Kowanyama man was found unresponsive in a police cell late last year, a pre-inquest conference has heard the first details of what happened.

An expert witness tells a NSW deputy coroner of the danger of holding an "exhausted" person down in the prone position.

Despite former constable Zachary Rolfe being dismissed from the NT Police Force last week, for unrelated matters, the court has been told his appeal argument could be relevant to other police officers called to give evidence at coronial inquests.

NT Police confirms former constable Zachary Rolfe has been dismissed from the force "due to serious breaches of discipline", as his lawyers announce he intends to appeal the decision.

A WA coronial inquest hears a 46-year-old Aboriginal prisoner who died in custody of a heart attack had unprescribed medication in his system. 

A review has found the transport of prisoners in regional WA is being conducted "safely and efficiently", 15 years after the death of an Aboriginal elder due to severe heatstroke in a van that had broken air conditioning. 

Sources have told the ABC that Constable Zachary Rolfe has been issued a letter notifying him the NT police force intends to dismiss him. 

The dilapidated state of remote housing in the Northern Territory was probed on the last day of hearings for several months in the coronial inquest into the death of the Indigenous teenager.