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Letters

Peace on the Inside

Ronin Cruise, based in Queensland, has spent a significant portion of his life in prison. He wrote a book during his recent time called Pri-Zen, and considers writing and sharing his story a key driver in staying clean and out of prison.

'Just Chillin' by Tony, Boom Gate Gallery

My name is Ronin. I have been in and out of prison multiple times over the last 12 years and have reached a point where some call it institutionalised. The thing is, I love prison. I love it so much that I seem to be constantly on a reckless path when I'm out to either die, or come back to prison.

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The last two times I was released, I only managed to make it out for a few months, even though I was really trying to do the right thing and work. But using that energy of mine to constantly chase money left me constantly with none left for my passions. That's why I love prison. It's a place where I can read, paint and exercise in peace. A place free from social expectations, free from the monetary rat race and the place I feel the most freedom to be me. I can do all the things that I genuinely love to do without sacrificing myself towards making money. I have a roof over my head and food in my stomach. I love it so much that this time I'm writing a book about how I found peace in prison. It's called Pri-zen. And like your newspaper, it's a book that I hope will find itself in the hands of my fellow prisoners. To help them learn how to use their time.

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Kind regards,

Ronin

This
letter
was originally printed in the
December 2024
edition of About Time.
By Kate

Each day I wake up in here I’m re-shocked, so to speak…how on Earth has life gotten to this point for me? For a while there I was waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out and tell me I’d been “Punk’d”.

ISSUE NO. 27
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2 MIN READ
By Adrian

There is a particular part of our prison populations that seems to have been forgotten, that gets no mention and yet these people who are the ones that need help and support when incarcerated with a unique set of issues that just aren’t recognised.

ISSUE NO. 27
•
3 MIN READ
By Marley

So the parole referred me to seek out a security classification to be possibly considered for low security.

ISSUE NO. 27
•
2 MIN READ
By Stephen

What’s been happening at your prison at the moment? Our frequency of ‘lock-ins’ is increasing to about 2 per week while staff do training for the handover.

ISSUE NO. 27
•
2 MIN READ

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

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