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. 12
JULY 2025
Locked Down But Not Forgotten
Lockdowns reach mainstream media and people are responding
By Denham Sadler

The regular use of lockdowns across the Australian prison system has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, with governments under pressure to address the growing issue that is having a devastating impact on those inside.

ISSUE NO. 12
4 MIN READ
Ike Curtis
Lit a Light of Hope
By Zayne

I read your paper the night previous, and a part of me that previously was dead or dying suddenly felt alive and connected to others with similar struggles and trauma.

ISSUE NO. 12
1 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Nowhere to Live
By Tony

If I get to the end of my sentence (another 13 months), then I will be dropped into a motel for three days, then after that, I’m on my own. It doesn’t seem fair.

ISSUE NO. 12
1 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
By Vishal

It gets disheartening but I am determined to break free of this system.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
By Micky

The issue I wish to discuss with everyone is something I’m dealing with personally myself right now and I know for a fact I’m not the only one!

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
Anonymous

I won’t even mention how expensive basic vegetables have gotten for us for the risk of sending somebody into shock.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
By Kelly

This is one of my many thoughts on all the moments in life I may have taken for granted – of memories of my younger years. And here’s to us all making new memories, whether in our youth or mature years.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
By Paige

Being sober feels like getting high used to.

ISSUE NO. 12
1 MIN READ
By Garth

Thanks for the paper – it’s something a lot of us look forward to.

ISSUE NO. 12
1 MIN READ
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An Unexpected Exclusive with Australian Fugitive, Markis Turner
By Damien Linnane

Markis is the alleged ‘mastermind’ behind a scheme to import more than 71 kilos of cocaine to Australia. He fled the country while on bail, and was caught after two years on the run in the Philippines. That was 2017. He’s been detained here ever since.

ISSUE NO. 12
5 MIN READ
BJMP
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 – June 2025
By About Time

Including an inspection of court custody centres in WA, Victoria enforcing the nation's strictest machete ban, Tasmanians returning to the polls and more.

ISSUE NO. 12
2-3 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
Ice Cube Drops Wisdom on Jailbreak Radio
By Kate Pinnock

The godfather of hip hop, rapper, and filmmaker Ice Cube from Los Angeles spoke exclusively to prison radio show ‘Jailbreak’  about his own experiences in the American prison system.

ISSUE NO. 12
4 MIN READ
Ice Cube and Kate Pinnock
Money, Money, Money
By Stacey Stokes

A report by Financial Counselling Australia said this is a form of “double punishment”, with people leaving prison in a worse financial position than when they entered it because the system is “stacked against them”.

ISSUE NO. 12
3 MIN READ

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Beyond Stereotypes: Young Men on the Inside
By teachers and students in a juvenile justice centre

Despite all their challenges, they walk into the classroom, shake my hand, and tell me riddles or stories about their mum or their little brother.

ISSUE NO. 12
3 MIN READ
‘Always Keep Going’: Jai’s Journey Getting Clean With an ABI
By Jai

I acquired a brain injury from a motorcycle accident I had when I was 20. I hit a tree pretty hard, and I split the motorbike helmet into two pieces and knocked myself out. I ended up in Brisbane hospital, and they said I had a shade over one side of my brain and that I had a minor brain injury.

ISSUE NO. 12
4 MIN READ
Jai, Image Supplied
Same Walls, Different Time
By Benjamin Aitken

Prisoners doing long stretches often face deep psychological and social isolation. Years away from family can mean missing key milestones, children growing up, parents aging, relationships ending. The world outside doesn’t wait.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
‘New Guernica’ 2021, Benjamin Aitken

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!

How to Write an Official Letter in Four Easy Steps
By Simon

All of us need to write formal letters at different times in our life. Many of them will be for legal questions or problems. Some will be inquiries, complaints, job applications or requests for information. And some could be to support a legal appeal.

ISSUE NO. 12
4 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Breaking the Cycle of ‘Stuck Point’ Thinking
By Steve Rothwell

The purpose of this article is to raise awareness of the hold that ‘stuck thoughts’ can have over you; to show you how to notice and identify ‘stuck thoughts’, and how to challenge and overcome them.

ISSUE NO. 12
4 MIN READ
Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash
‘They Told Me I Had It, and Then They Helped Me Get Rid of It’
This article and artwork were shared with permission by two people currently in custody in NSW.

Getting that kind of help inside meant a lot. There’s not much in here that feels easy, or like people have your back. But this did. I actually felt looked after. Like someone wanted me to get well. That doesn’t happen a lot in jail. You’re usually left to figure stuff out on your own. But with this, the nurses were there the whole way through.

ISSUE NO. 12
4 MIN READ

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Laws Around Strip Searches in Prisons
By Daniel Vansetten

Strip searching is a security practice purportedly used by prison authorities to prevent drugs and other contraband from entering prisons.

ISSUE NO. 12
4 MIN READ
Legal Q&A – Is It Mandatory to Do Courses at Minimum Level Security to Get Parole?
By John

Would I be forced to drop my appeal just to get to minimum security? Is this fair? My parole is due November 12 but I can’t see how I can get it.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 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

From Prison to Purpose: How I Found Freedom, Brotherhood, and Peace
By Ronin Cruise

If I had found freedom in prison, then what was even the point trying to fit in with society?

ISSUE NO. 12
4 MIN READ
Alice Hartrik
Holding On to the Dream
Finding meaning after the sentence
By Tabitha Lean & Debbie Kilroy

Everyone has the right to dream. To expect. To imagine a version of life where we get to decide who we are – not just live with who we’ve been told we are. That kind of dreaming is powerful. It keeps something alive in us. Something worth fighting for.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
Mob
The Creation of Artwork By Aalayah
By Kelly-Marie Margreot Roma Flanagan “AKA” ArtworkByAalayah

This is not the journey I planned. I didn’t wake up one day and say, ‘I want to go to prison and become an artist. I better start applying to all the different gangs and drug dealers and see who is hiring.’ No, that’s not how it happened. In fact, the road was a lot darker, violent and overall ruthless.

ISSUE NO. 12
4 MIN READ
Film Review of Wicked Little Letters
By Vincent

Set in the period following ‘The Great War’ (World War I), Wicked Little Letters is a comedic re-telling of true events that took place in Littlehampton, England.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
StudioCanal
Paper Chained Prison Art Exhibition Goes National!
By Damien Linnane

After running Australia’s first ever international prison art exhibition in Sydney in May last year, it was great to be able to finally tour the works to another city. We plan to bring the art to a new city each year.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
Exhibition installation in Brisbane this year
Against All Odds: The Story of a Little Shrub
By Sam

Once upon a time, a sleepy little shrub lived a contented but impoverished life in a quiet shady corner of a garden. Although the little shrub did not complain, it was much smaller than most of its other friends, and its branches were thin and twig-like.

ISSUE NO. 12
6 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Malnight, Junee Correctional Centre in New South Wales
By Krystal

I found this poem titled Until and I wrote a poem on my reflection to it.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
Anonymous

Doing time together, under lock and key, but helping others can set your mind free. The past is gone, the future’s not arrived, focus on now, be glad to be alive.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
By LV

Let go, let go of your enemies. Let go, let go of your hate. Let go and forgive.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
By Cody

The brooding castle had overlooked our town since time immemorial. Its dark parapets loomed over us, perched high on the behemoth mountain so familiar to me. I had lived in its shadow my whole life.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
By Shelly (Rachelle)

Sitting in this cage, barbed wire all around. Been transported here, but first my wrists are bound. Heavy metal locked, no chance of breaking free.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
By Garry

Our ego asked what is our purpose. We search for enlightenment, it’s in us all. Happiness is a choice so make it yours. Forgiveness of others will lead you to peace.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
By Alex

I remember the day I saw you, I held your tiny form. The chilly air made you tremble, so, we took you home. You grew up so quickly, to our great surprise, and tore around the unit, right before our eyes.

ISSUE NO. 12
2 MIN READ
By Sam

Once upon a time, a sleepy little shrub lived a contented but impoverished life in a quiet shady corner of a garden. Although the little shrub did not complain, it was much smaller than most of its other friends, and its branches were thin and twig-like.

ISSUE NO. 12
6 MIN READ
Vishal draws from Alexander Maconochie Centre, ACT.
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