Australia's National Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

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ISSUE NO. 11
JUNE 2025
Donate Here
‘Nowhere Near Enough’: More Housing Needed for People Leaving Prison
By Denham Sadler

A lack of access to stable housing is a key reason why many people reoffend and return to prison. It’s also a main reason why people are denied parole and kept in prison for longer.

ISSUE NO. 11
7 MIN READ
Ike Curtis
A Letter of Encouragement
By Stenzy

Brothers, seriously, when you look at how much worse off other people in the world have it and you truly understand there really is no rock bottom, then you start to see there are no limits to how good our life could be (and out of anyone we deserve it!).

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
Caspar Rae via Unsplash
No ‘Suitable’ Housing For Parole
By Zachary

I’m eligible for release mid-July if I can find a suitable address, and I’ve applied for a Crest public boarding house address, but they’ve advised me of a minimum 12-month wait time.

ISSUE NO. 11
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Anonymous

At this point, we struggle to even be released on our parole date while being a model prisoner, which I feel is our right.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
By Wayne

Luckily, in the week leading up to sentencing, I made contact with whom I now call the “Gods of Criminal Defence”.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
By Jeffrey

A problem I have come across here at Woodford is that the only reading glasses you can get (if you are poor and not eligible for free prescription glasses) are #16 and are only 2.0 magnification!

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
By Matthew

‘They can lock the locks, but they can’t stop the clock!’

ISSUE NO. 11
1 MIN READ
By Lee

In March 2024, I completed a program called Mates for Inmates. It was a program where we had dogs that came in from the Lord Smith’s Dog Home that needed to be retrained so they could be rehomed to those looking to adopt a dog so they can eventually find their forever home.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
By Yvonne

I was determined to strive for something different. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to be honest, open-minded and willing today.

ISSUE NO. 11
5 MIN READ
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Rethinking Justice: Inside Victoria’s Therapeutic Court System
By Stacey Stokes

While hardline responses to crime are constantly pushed by politicians and the media, other approaches – such as “therapeutic justice” models – are often overlooked.

ISSUE NO. 11
4 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Popular on the Inside
Benefits of Prison Pen-Pal Programs
Denham Sadler
December 2024
The Stress of Parole
Stacey Stokes
December 2024
A Dutch Prison Diary
Anonymous
December 2024
How to Deal with Shame
Annalise de Groot
November 2024
Around the Country – May 2025
By About Time

Including WA Government pledges to improve crisis care in prisons, Victoria announcing a $700m investment in prisons and officers, an ACT prison inspector flagging understaffing issues and more.

ISSUE NO. 11
2-3 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
Knitting in Prison: Great Balls of Fibre!
By Sam

No-one’s life pans out quite the way they might expect, but it should never be too late to try and get back on course.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
We call him ‘Mother Clukka’

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The Crash That Changed Everything
By Paul Turley

I still remember the haunting words of the old next-door neighbour when he saw it: ‘Young men die in green cars.’ Stupid old bugger, what would he know?

ISSUE NO. 11
4 MIN READ
Ike Curtis
Homelessness: Working in a Broken System
By Charlie (not the author’s real name)

I support a number of clients – individuals, couples and families – who are experiencing homelessness. Like so many others in this field, I entered this work because I care deeply about people and community.

ISSUE NO. 11
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
What is an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)? Fran Shares Her Advocacy Story
By Fran

ABIs can be caused by many different things. It can be a car accident, a fall, can be from violence – the list goes on and on.

ISSUE NO. 11
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Rewired by Survival
By Andrew

My brain seems to simply have wiped out part of my memory. I think it’s for the best.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance

Pitch Your Idea!

Do you have a story you want to share, or an issue you want to investigate?
About Time is always looking for more stories and contributions from people outside prison.

Pitch it here!

Writing Prompts: Some Ideas to Get You Started!
By Grace J

Writing prompts are useful in many ways. They’re a good starting point to get your brain working, and can also help you come up with your own ideas.

ISSUE NO. 11
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Locked Up on Screen: The Enduring Appeal of Prison Movies
By Benjamin Aitken

Even before going to prison, I was drawn to prison movies. Now, after my time inside, I’m even more captivated.

ISSUE NO. 11
4 MIN READ
Benjamin Aitken
‘Lizard Brain’: Fear as an Instinctive Response
By Annalise de Groot

We are hardwired to know how to react to danger – when we perceive a threat, our bodies instantly assess it to determine how we should respond.

ISSUE NO. 11
3 MIN READ
Aarón Blanco Tejedor via Unsplash
Cell Workout
This was originally submitted to Inside Time by Luke, who is incarcerated in the UK.

A collection of exercises that can be done in a small area of space.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ

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Understanding Australia’s Legal System: How Legislation and Common Law Work Together
By Daniel Vansetten

Australia has two sources of law: legislation and common law. Legislation is made by parliaments and is available in documents called acts. Common law is made by judges in court decisions and covers areas that have not been legislated.

ISSUE NO. 11
4 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Legal Q&A
By Brian

My name is Brian. A lot of guys here are talking about new legislation coming in the near future, but I haven’t found it anywhere. It is called “Daniel’s Law”. I was wondering if you could explain it and when it will take effect and who it will apply to?

ISSUE NO. 11
3 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy

Legal Q&A

Do you have a general legal query that you want answered?
Is  there an area of law that you think people inside should know more about? Submit your question in the provided form, and we might publish an answer in the paper.

Submit Your Question

Being Released
By Kelly Flanagan

My release date was the 18th of March 2025, and in one month I have accomplished so many things.

ISSUE NO. 11
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Mob
The Strength Within: Part 3
By VALS and Marie Mitchell

My name is Johnathan Binge and I’m Gamilaraay/Gamilaroi, Dunghutti and Gumbaynggyirr. I was born in Moree, that’s my country, but currently living in Naarm now. I’m just a black fella moving through the motions!

ISSUE NO. 11
7 MIN READ
Nico Smit
Artwork From The Torch – Issue No. 11
By The Torch

Including a piece about moving forward and another about seasons in Northern Australia.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
Luke S (Bindal people) ‘Seasons’ 2025, acrylic on canvas
Golden Mud
By Leonor (through Somebody’s Daughter art programs in DPFC and Tarrengower prison)

This painting was inspired by a photo that I found in the National Geographic of January 2011 taken by Robin Hammond. It’s a gold miner in the border province of Manica.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
Acrylic, Pastel on Black Paper 2024
By Greg, Karreenga, VIC
By John

Rob (my cellie) and I were about to go to sleep one miserable cold night, and a mouse (Jesus DMC) died and went up to the pearly gates and knocked.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
By Karie

Brain tumour, brain tumour, a darkness you can’t see, oh how I hate you, you took my brother away from me.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
By Jacqui

My little boy has grown so strong, I can’t believe its been this long, since he raised his tiny head, and gazed at me in the hospital bed.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
By Mahina

Being in jail has given me time to think, as I lay in my bed and slowly sink.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
By Kelly Flanagan

I destroy homes, I tear families apart, take your children, and that’s just the start. I’m more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold, the sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.

ISSUE NO. 11
3 MIN READ
By Jeff

Now sit in cell of nought to read, the glasses gone! Of what I need! I ask the system, to provide, for that, my sight be magnified.

ISSUE NO. 11
2 MIN READ
Play
Quiz

Test your general knowledge on our monthly quiz!

Marcel Strauss
Card Game – War!

The goal of the game is to have the highest card in each round to win points. The player with the most points at the end wins.

Andrik Langfield
Crossword

Can you find all the words from the clues?

Bad Jokes

If you have a better joke please send them to us because these ones are terrible!

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A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help keep the momentum going. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

It's
About Time.

A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

Donate Here

Newsletter

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