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Full Story The shocking death toll from inaction in prisons
Jun 11, 2025
Christopher Knaus, Chief Investigations Correspondent at Guardian Australia, and Ariel Bogle, Investigations Reporter at the same outlet, delve into the alarming suicide crisis in Australian prisons. They reveal shocking statistics on preventable deaths and highlight systemic failures, using the tragic case of Luke Rich to illustrate the human cost of inaction. The duo discusses the stark contradiction between governmental promises and actual safety measures, calling for urgent reforms and greater accountability to protect vulnerable inmates.
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Luke Rich's Tragic Story
- Luke Rich died by suicide one day after being remanded in an ACT prison using a known ligature point.
- His family emphasized that the prison's failure to remove this danger cost Luke his life.
Known Hanging Points Still Fatal
- Over two decades, 57 inmates died by hanging using known ligature points.
- Despite repeated coroners' warnings, dangerous hanging points remained in prisons across Australia.
Disproportionate Impact on Indigenous People
- Indigenous Australians are disproportionately affected by hanging deaths in custody.
- Aboriginal hangings in prison are at a 17-year high with 101 deaths since the 1991 Royal Commission.