ISSUE NO. 4
October 2024
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Letters

Mark's Musings

By
Mark

Mark writes from Port Phillip Prison in Victoria.

'Lonely Tree' by York, $250, #5699, 60cm x 100, acrylic on canvas, available to purchase at Boom Gate Gallery

Congratulations on the launch of About Time. I can only imagine how many obstacles you have navigated to successfully sail the product into Australia’s prisons, and from where I sit it was very warmly received by the inmates, security and medical staff that I share time with. Well done, and thank you for delivering us something we didn’t know we needed until we received it!

I’ve written a lot of content over the past year, but I think most of it would be unsuitable to print, and so I’ve written a bit about my story that might be useful to you. I write poetic portraits of my fellow inmates in a Henry Lawson style of short stories that are littered with profanities (and toilet humour). I can forward an example if you like, but my current project might be more useful as it is an investigative journalism piece that focuses in on the hot topic of gender-based violence and the astounding amount of men that are imprisoned for breaching intervention orders (and what little is being done inside to rehabilitate men that have crossed that line).

One question I would like answered is: what happens to the items you receive? Are they scanned and put into a folder, or are they thrown out after use (or not used)? I have no way of making a copy of anything I send out, and if you have no process for keeping any of the content you are given, I will look into sending a letter to a friend to photocopy and send via email.

Thanks so much for your time, and I look forward to your response.

Much love,

Mark

Congratulations on the launch of About Time. I can only imagine how many obstacles you have navigated to successfully sail the product into Australia’s prisons, and from where I sit it was very warmly received by the inmates, security and medical staff that I share time with. Well done, and thank you for delivering us something we didn’t know we needed until we received it!

I’ve written a lot of content over the past year, but I think most of it would be unsuitable to print, and so I’ve written a bit about my story that might be useful to you. I write poetic portraits of my fellow inmates in a Henry Lawson style of short stories that are littered with profanities (and toilet humour). I can forward an example if you like, but my current project might be more useful as it is an investigative journalism piece that focuses in on the hot topic of gender-based violence and the astounding amount of men that are imprisoned for breaching intervention orders (and what little is being done inside to rehabilitate men that have crossed that line).

One question I would like answered is: what happens to the items you receive? Are they scanned and put into a folder, or are they thrown out after use (or not used)? I have no way of making a copy of anything I send out, and if you have no process for keeping any of the content you are given, I will look into sending a letter to a friend to photocopy and send via email.

Thanks so much for your time, and I look forward to your response.

Much love,

Mark

Sistas, Support Each Other!

By Anonymous

This letter is to remind you all that, as Sistas, we need to be there for one another to raise women up.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

2 MIN READ

Strip Searches

By Nikita

It’s daunting enough when you get arrested by police, then placed into custody and thrown into a cell. Then you have to go through a degrading strip search.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

1 MIN READ

If It’s Broken, Then Fix It

By Andrew

I’ve spent most of my adult life behind bars, and I’m not proud to say it. It’s been such a bloody waste.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

3 MIN READ

Routine is Good, Not Bad

By Dane

Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in prison can relate to the concept of prison rituals and routines.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

3 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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Help Us Keep Publishing About Time

Without About Time, I don’t know where I would be – Mark, from a prison in Victoria

We need your help so that we can print and distribute the paper to every person in every prison for at least the next year. We value whatever you can spare, no matter how big or small.

Australia’s prison population is growing, and our many prisons are spread far and wide.

We need your help so that we can print and distribute the paper to every person in every prison for at least the next year. We need your help to cover postage for anyone who sends us a letter from the inside.

We value whatever you can spare, no matter how big or small.