A death in custody is defined as a death of a person who: (1) is in prison custody or police custody or detention as a juvenile; (2) dies as the result of traumatic injuries sustained or by lack of proper care while in such custody; (3) dies or is fatally injured in the process of police or prison officers attempting to detain that person; or (4) dies or is fatally injured in the process of escaping or attempting to escape from prison custody, police custody or juvenile detention. During 1996-97, 27 of the 32 deaths that occurred in police custody occurred while police were detaining or attempting to detain suspects. During that same year there was a substantial reduction in the proportion of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal deaths in police institutional settings. However, Aboriginal people continued to be overrepresented in police and prison custody and in the number of custodial deaths compared with their number in the community. Figures, tables