Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

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

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ISSUE NO. 14

September 2025

ISSUE NO. 14

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September 2025

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Legal Corner

Legal Q&A

“If prisoners break the law in prison, does it get taken to the police and the courts?”

Anonymous

The author writes from a prison in VIC.

Ethan Cassidy

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Answer by Volunteer Barristers for About Time

Yes. If it is alleged that you have committed an offence in custody, you may be charged by police and the matter could go through the courts like any other offence.

If you are accused of committing an offence while you are in prison, it may be dealt with through an internal disciplinary process in the prison or it may go through the courts like an alleged offence in the community would.

This will likely depend on the seriousness of the alleged offence.

If this happens, it is important for you to get legal advice.

If you are charged with breaking a rule in prison, this can result in disciplinary action, in addition to potential criminal charges.

You have the right to a fair disciplinary hearing. In this hearing, a hearing officer will tell you about the procedure in the hearing, read the charge out to you and give you an opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty.

How the rest of the hearing will play out depends on whether you plead guilty or not guilty.

If you plead guilty, you will then be able to make a plea about what penalty you should receive, something that is called “submissions”. In submissions, you can talk about why the offence happened, what was happening to you at the time it happened and whether it’s the first time you have been in trouble for something like this.

If you plead not guilty, the hearing officer will likely then hear from witnesses, look at relevant information and listen to arguments on both sides. They will then make a decision about whether the prison offence occurred or not.

If you attend this hearing, you will have a chance to respond and present your own evidence.

Answer by Volunteer Barristers for About Time

Yes. If it is alleged that you have committed an offence in custody, you may be charged by police and the matter could go through the courts like any other offence.

If you are accused of committing an offence while you are in prison, it may be dealt with through an internal disciplinary process in the prison or it may go through the courts like an alleged offence in the community would.

This will likely depend on the seriousness of the alleged offence.

If this happens, it is important for you to get legal advice.

If you are charged with breaking a rule in prison, this can result in disciplinary action, in addition to potential criminal charges.

You have the right to a fair disciplinary hearing. In this hearing, a hearing officer will tell you about the procedure in the hearing, read the charge out to you and give you an opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty.

How the rest of the hearing will play out depends on whether you plead guilty or not guilty.

If you plead guilty, you will then be able to make a plea about what penalty you should receive, something that is called “submissions”. In submissions, you can talk about why the offence happened, what was happening to you at the time it happened and whether it’s the first time you have been in trouble for something like this.

If you plead not guilty, the hearing officer will likely then hear from witnesses, look at relevant information and listen to arguments on both sides. They will then make a decision about whether the prison offence occurred or not.

If you attend this hearing, you will have a chance to respond and present your own evidence.

Around the Country: Parole

Around the Country: Parole

Around the Country: Parole

By Fitzroy Legal Service, Prisoners Legal Service (NSW Legal Aid), Prisoners Legal Service (QLD) and About Time
By Fitzroy Legal Service, Prisoners Legal Service (NSW Legal Aid), Prisoners Legal Service (QLD) and About Time

Parole is a process that gives some people the ability to get out of prison and serve the last part of their sentence in the community, under the supervision of Community Corrections (which used to be known as Probation and Parole).

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 6

10 MIN READ

Solitary Confinement as a Sentencing Factor

Solitary Confinement as a Sentencing Factor

Solitary Confinement as a Sentencing Factor

By Prisoners Legal Service
By Prisoners Legal Service

If a prisoner is detained in solitary confinement, the conditions they face in custody are significantly more challenging compared to the general prison population. In some cases, this may be taken into account by a sentencing court and result in a shorter sentence being imposed.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 13

2 MIN READ

Human Rights in Prison

Human Rights in Prison

Human Rights in Prison

By Human Rights Law Centre
By Human Rights Law Centre

All people behind bars should be treated with dignity.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 10

6 MIN READ

Freedom of Information (Part Two): Review Options

Freedom of Information (Part Two): Review Options

Freedom of Information (Part Two): Review Options

By Daniel Vansetten
By Daniel Vansetten

This is the second part of a two-part series on Freedom of Information (or Right to Information) laws. This part discusses ‘review processes’ – that is, what can be done if you are unhappy with the FOI decision, particularly if you were refused information and you think this was incorrect.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 5

10 MIN READ

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How to Prepare for Your Defence

This is from a booklet of legal information from an anonymous prisoner.

The criminal justice system deals with proof, not truth. The police and Crown present allegations; the defence rebuts them; the jury decides whether the Crown has met the required standard of proof. “Truth” and “innocence” are not part of the legal equation.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 18

4 MIN READ

Explainer of Prison Offence Laws

By About Time

There are major differences between how offences in prisons are dealt with around Australia. These offences typically range from minor ones, such as keeping an untidy cell, to more serious ones and others that can become criminal charges.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 17

3 MIN READ

FAQs: Security Classifications in Queensland

By Prisoners’ Legal Service

Your security classification impacts which prison you are placed in and the level of security that is imposed on you.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 16

2 MIN READ

Whistleblowing Laws: Protecting Those Who Speak Out

By Human Rights Law Centre lawyers Madeleine Howle and Kieran Pender

Wrongdoing thrives in the darkness. Too often, it is only because of brave people who speak out that the public learns what is happening in the shadows.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 16

3 MIN READ

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