A record number of First Nations people died in New South Wales prison custody last year, and advocates fear 2026 could be worse after two Indigenous men died in July.
Key facts
- A record number of First Nations people died in NSW prison custody last year, according to the Guardian.
- Matthew Roberts, a 27-year-old Bundjalung, Yaegl and Gamilaroi man, took his own life at Lithgow correctional centre on 7 July.
- Roberts, a father of two young boys, had been remanded in custody in March.
- A second First Nations man, aged 21, died a week later at Clarence correctional centre.
- Advocates warn this year's toll could exceed last year's record.
First Nations advocates have warned that prisons in New South Wales could exceed the record number of Indigenous deaths in custody set last year, following the deaths of two men this month, according to the Guardian.
Matthew Roberts, a 27-year-old Bundjalung, Yaegl and Gamilaroi man and a father of two young boys, took his own life inside Lithgow correctional centre on 7 July. He had been remanded in custody in March, three months before his death.
His mother, Karlene Whitton, told the Guardian that her son took his own life three months into his jail term. “I keep picturing it every night,” she said.
A week after Roberts died, another First Nations man, aged 21, died at Clarence correctional centre, the Guardian reported.
The deaths have intensified concern among advocates who fear that the number of Indigenous deaths in custody in NSW this year could surpass the record set in the previous year.
The Guardian noted its report contains images and names of Indigenous Australians who have died, a customary warning acknowledging cultural sensitivities within First Nations communities.
Why it matters
Deaths of First Nations people in custody remain a long-standing and deeply contested issue in Australia, where Indigenous people are heavily overrepresented in the prison system. A record annual toll, and fears it could rise further, raise urgent questions about the care and safety of Indigenous prisoners.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Matthew Roberts?
Matthew Roberts was a 27-year-old Bundjalung, Yaegl and Gamilaroi man and father of two young boys. According to the Guardian, he took his own life inside Lithgow correctional centre on 7 July after being remanded in custody in March.
How many First Nations people died in NSW custody?
The Guardian reports a record number of First Nations people died in NSW prison custody last year, though the exact figure was not specified in the source. Two Indigenous men have died this month at Lithgow and Clarence correctional centres.
Why do advocates fear this year will be worse?
Advocates warn that NSW prisons could exceed last year's record number of Indigenous deaths in custody after two men, aged 27 and 21, died within a week of each other in July.