ISSUE NO. 19
February 2026
Donate Here

Letters

G’day From Long Bay

By
Andy

Andy writes from a prison in NSW.

Mathilde Langevin via Unsplash

G’day,

Thanks for providing About Time and explaining things – it’s helpful for understanding life behind bars and other things. It sometimes seems that life has become so complicated with government making so many new laws that you almost need a team of lawyers to consult to check what you think, say and do is not against the law every morning, and that it won’t be used against you by someone.

Just before I was jailed, I read a report in a newspaper about the dangers of Aspartame. They say sugar can be used to brew alcohol in jail so by providing Aspartame (also called Splendour and other names) they stop it – but it’s not good for our gut bacteria! They feed us a lot of chemicals and processed food in here.

Another thing to know about prison is that some beds are so short in jail that tall people have to sleep in the foetal position or bump their heads two feet at night.

In Issue 12, Kelly mentioned a man called Paul who spent some of his life in custody and said he found that whatever state he found himself in, he would be content. I found some comfort in this, but I do miss the dogs a lot.

Bye from LBJ

G’day,

Thanks for providing About Time and explaining things – it’s helpful for understanding life behind bars and other things. It sometimes seems that life has become so complicated with government making so many new laws that you almost need a team of lawyers to consult to check what you think, say and do is not against the law every morning, and that it won’t be used against you by someone.

Just before I was jailed, I read a report in a newspaper about the dangers of Aspartame. They say sugar can be used to brew alcohol in jail so by providing Aspartame (also called Splendour and other names) they stop it – but it’s not good for our gut bacteria! They feed us a lot of chemicals and processed food in here.

Another thing to know about prison is that some beds are so short in jail that tall people have to sleep in the foetal position or bump their heads two feet at night.

In Issue 12, Kelly mentioned a man called Paul who spent some of his life in custody and said he found that whatever state he found himself in, he would be content. I found some comfort in this, but I do miss the dogs a lot.

Bye from LBJ

Lessons from Bees

By Muhamed

Prison teaches people to hold back. To keep to themselves. To give as little as possible. To protect what little energy or hope they have left. When everything feels limited – time, freedom, trust – it makes sense to think that giving more will leave you with less. But the bee lives by a different rule.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Albany Prisoners on Lockdowns

By Prisoners at Albany Prison, WA

We are not sure who to write to or who we can talk to about theses matters. We are hoping someone reads our letter and can point us in the right direction to have our voices heard.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

1 MIN READ

Rights for Foreign Prisoners

By Luiing

If foreign prisoners have been sentenced under same law as Australians, then it’s extremely important that they have right to be treat equally in their imprisonment – on humanitarian grounds.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Not Cool: Heat and Overcrowding in TMCC

By Dane

The following is in response to the article by Denham Sadler titled “Sweltering Behind Bars: Stifling Heat in Australian prisons”.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn