This study assesses all causes of death for people in police or prison custody, with particular attention to differences between Aboriginal & non-Aboriginal deaths, over a 10 year period 1980-89. About half of the 527 deaths were due to self-harmful behavior. This has important implications for the criminal Justice & corrections systems. Special attention needs to be directed to the specific needs of Aborigines, many of whom are at greater health risk than non-Aborigines. (20 refs.)