There are lots of reasons why people may get lighter or heavier sentences than someone else who has committed the same crime.

With people in prisons across the country being subjected to an “epidemic of prison lockdowns”, it is important to note that bare minimum safeguards exist in law, in most jurisdictions, that purport to guarantee at least some time ‘in the open air’ each day for people behind bars.

The Ombudsman is an independent organisation that oversees complaints against government decisions and actions. Each state/territory has their own Ombudsman. The Ombudsman responds to a complaint by investigating from both sides what has happened and why.

When people are imprisoned, they lose their freedom, but they do not lose all of their human rights. International human rights law makes this very clear.