Deaths in Custody Project

The Deaths in Custody Project is a database of publicly available records about deaths in custody in Australia. Created by Professor Tamara Walsh, it consolidates coronial inquests from all states and territories for national analysis.

The project now runs as a partnership between the UQ Law School and Prisoners' Legal Service (PLS) in Queensland.

Since 2016, UQ law students have volunteered to compile key findings from coroners’ reports dating back to 1991. We acknowledge the distress that surrounds every death in custody. We approach this work with due respect, for example, we anonymise data to protect privacy. The project adheres to ethical research guidelines and serves as a vital resource for researchers, policymakers, and advocates.