Two Indigenous men have tragically died while in custody at Canberra’s Alexander Maconochie Centre within days of each other. The first incident involved a 38-year-old man who suffered a medical emergency early yesterday morning. Despite the prompt response from prison staff and paramedics, he was pronounced dead shortly after. An ACT Corrective Services spokesperson expressed condolences to the man’s family and friends.
Just days before, a 73-year-old man passed away while receiving hospital care after being remanded at the same facility. He had been unwell and in palliative care since his admission earlier this year. Both cases have been reported to the coroner, as is standard procedure for deaths in custody.
These incidents mark the first two Indigenous deaths in custody this year, following a concerning record of 27 such deaths in the previous year. ACT Policing is currently conducting investigations into both cases, and detailed reports will be provided for the upcoming coronial inquiries.
For those in need of 24/7 crisis support, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can reach out to 13YARN at 13 92 76.