Record number of First Nations people died in NSW prison custody last year

New South Wales prisons recorded a record number of First Nations deaths in custody last year, and advocates warn 2024 could be even worse following two Indigenous deaths already this month. Matthew Roberts, a 27-year-old father, died by suicide at Lithgow correctional centre after three months in custody, while another 21-year-old First Nations man died at Clarence correctional centre a week later. These deaths highlight ongoing concerns about the safety and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians within the prison system.