Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

ISSUE NO. 18
JANUARY 2026

Letters

About Time dedicates many of its pages to publishing the letters of people in prison, as well as from their family and friends.

This is the centrepiece of the paper: a platform for people to share their experiences and learn from each other.

Latest
Hope and Solidarity – a Freakin' Buzz!
Hope and Solidarity – a Freakin' Buzz!
Hope and Solidarity – a Freakin' Buzz!
Subheading
Subheading
By Joe
By Joe

I write to extend feedback – re: your monthly paper. I must say that it was with more than the usual measuring spoon of interest that most here @ MRC welcomed its arrival.

ISSUE NO. 3
5 MIN READ
Markus Spiske
My Time in Here Will Not Define Me
My Time in Here Will Not Define Me
My Time in Here Will Not Define Me
Subheading
Subheading
By Storm
By Storm

12 months into being remanded in custody. I’m still yet to be sentenced – hence I can’t see the end at all.

ISSUE NO. 3
3 MIN READ
'Forest Sky' by Mimo, $160, #5733, 60cm x 98cm, acrylic on canvas, available to purchase at https://www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/boom-gate-gallery
The Cost of Contact – New Prison Phone Fees Punish the Poor
By Anonymous

We are encouraged to maintain contact with our support people, our wives, our families, and our friends. This upcoming price increase will reduce the amount of contact we will be able to have with our supports.

ISSUE NO. 18
2 MIN READ
Alp Duran via Unsplash
The Need for Compassion in End-of-Life Prison Care
By Laurence

What I’m hoping to achieve by writing this is awareness of the care I receive and the stubbornness of the exceptional circumstances parole in Queensland.

ISSUE NO. 18
2 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
By Aaron

I’ve made the most of my time in jail this time and have made myself a promise to not just waste my time here, but to learn as much as I can, study, get fit, do as many programs as possible, and come out a better person than I came in as. I've achieved that, and more.

ISSUE NO. 18
3 MIN READ
By Jack

Why are jails so populated by people who are uneducated? What is being missed by the courts and cops and the community that the process of jailing people is formed around the process of not educating people or not identifying the problems in school?

ISSUE NO. 18
2 MIN READ
By Anonymous

GROW is a community-based national organisation that works on mental wellbeing using a 12 step program of personal growth of mutual help and support. It operates through weekly peer support groups.

ISSUE NO. 18
2 MIN READ
By Alexandra

I moved units about a month ago and we feed some stray cats here. One even let me pat her last night! It's been over a year since I've patted an animal, so you can imagine how excited I was!

ISSUE NO. 18
1 MIN READ
By Robert

Reading other prisoner’s stories inspired me to keep my head up and keep going now four months in, thank you all who share your stories and words of wisdom.

ISSUE NO. 18
2 MIN READ
By Grant

I have been incarcerated for 22 months of a four-year sentence in Queensland jails. This poem is about my own situation.

ISSUE NO. 18
1 MIN READ
By Peter

On 1 November 2025, QCS introduced a new pricing model: 20 cents per minute for all calls, mobile or local. A call that once cost 30 cents for 15 minutes now costs $3 – a ten-times increase.

ISSUE NO. 18
2 MIN READ
Previous Editions
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

How I’ve GROWn

By Trevor

GROW is a community-based national organisation that works on mental wellbeing using a 12-step program of personal growth, mutual help and support. It operates through weekly peer support groups.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

A Letter From the USA: Treasure the Moments With the Ones You Love

By Tricia

Hello to everyone in Australia. My name is Tricia. I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am serving a life sentence, and, for those of you who don’t know, a life sentence in Pennsylvania means your entire life.

3 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

‘Protection’ at the Cost of Human Rights

By Timmy

In New South Wales, there were previously three levels of protective custody for vulnerable inmates, such as myself, who have autism spectrum disorder and other mental health issues.

1 MIN RED
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

Rest in Paradise, Alithea

By Adrielle

I am writing to you about my one and only older sister, Alithea. RIP. It’s been 2 months since I lost you.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

Let Them Go Home

By Ed

Well, I’m writing this letter in relation to the housing crisis, which is a problem for many inmates trying to find a place to live.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

‘You Got This, Aye!’

By Belly

I have a short poem as well as a mindfulness technique called “Distress Tolerance”.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

I Am Not My Crime

By Brendan

I encourage everyone who is incarcerated not to identify with your crime. Rather, identify with something higher, wider and greater than that.

1 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

About Time’s First Letter From WA!

By Russell

Hi, I just want to send congratulations on your first issue reaching my prison.

1 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

Time Stands Still for No Man

By Andrew

Hey guys, I love getting the chance to read about other prisoners all around the country each month and thought I would share my story.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 16
November 2025

The Importance of Solitude in Rehabilitation

By Mick

It is not a pleasurable experience. It is very difficult to face all those emotions and reflect over the course of your whole life.

2 MIN READ
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