First Nations advocates are concerned that prisons in New South Wales may exceed the record number of Indigenous deaths in custody set in 2025. This warning follows the deaths of two First Nations men in July 2026.
Matthew Roberts, 27, died by suicide at Lithgow correctional centre on 7 July. His mother, Karlene Whitton, stated that he had been on suicide watch during a previous prison term and had expressed a desire to end his life on the night he died.
A spokesperson for Corrective Services NSW acknowledged the complexity of mental health within the justice system and stated that the matter is under investigation and will be considered by the coroner. Another First Nations man, 21, died a week later at Clarence correctional centre, a facility run by British multinational Serco.
In 2025, twelve First Nations people died in NSW prisons, marking a new record for the state. So far in 2026, at least seven First Nations people have died in custody. Data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (Bocsar) released in May showed that the prison population grew significantly in the four months to March 2026, with 41% of those entering prison being First Nations people.