Major findings from this report include the following: since 2000, overall deaths in custody have been decreasing in Australian custodial settings; for the decade 1998-2008, Indigenous deaths in both prison and policy custody decreased, while non-Indigenous deaths declined through 2006 and then began to rise; hanging as a cause of death in custody has decreased since the late 1990's, however hanging as a cause of death in custody is more likely to occur among young Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners than among older prisoners; and since 2001, the number of deaths in custody related to motor vehicle theft has declined most likely resulting from the decline in motor vehicle thefts across the country for the same period. This report from the Australian Institute of Criminology presents data on the number of deaths in custody in Australia for the period 1980 through 2008. The report presents analyses of data on deaths occurring in custodial settings, such as prisons and juvenile detention centers, as well as during policy custody and related operations, such as sieges and motor vehicle pursuits. The purpose of the report is provide accurate, regular information to policymakers in order to develop policies and programs aimed at effectively reducing deaths in custody and increasing public awareness of the problem. Tables, figures, references, and appendix