Inspector’s Corner – October 2026
Including a report released into youth education in Tasmania, a review into transfer of children to adult prisons in VIC and more.
ISSUE NO. 28
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4 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
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News and Investigations
Each edition contains news articles and investigative pieces. These are topical stories that are usually about prisons and criminal justice.
We also summarise the latest criminal justice news around the country.
Latest
Fake AI Case Used in Tasmanian Parole Decision
The condition, placed on Susan Neill Fraser, prevented her from speaking publicly or to the media about her claims of innocence.
ISSUE NO. 28
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3 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
New Police Powers: Extradition Warrants
By Benjamin Aitken
An arrest warrant gives police authority to arrest a person. But what happens when that person is believed to be inside somebody else’s home?
ISSUE NO. 28
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2 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Around the Country – October 2026
By About Time
Including a new strategy to reduce recidivism in SA, a proposed mandatory sentencing for certain breaches of bail in QLD, body-worn cameras coming to max-security prisons in WA and more.
ISSUE NO. 28
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3 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
Online news
ONLINE NEWS
Watch Houses Are Now Prisons: Inside the Hidden Crisis in Police Cells
In several Australian jurisdictions, police watch houses have become quasi-prison cells, as punitive crackdowns on bail and other “tough on crime” measures have filled jails across the country.
November 6, 2026
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6 MIN READ
ONLINE NEWS
QLD Moves to Exempt Prisons From Human Rights Laws
Queensland prison authorities will no longer be required to consider and act in a way that is compatible with human rights when making decisions that affect people in prison, under legislation the state government has introduced to Parliament.
October 30, 2026
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2 MIN READ
Ike Curtis
ONLINE NEWS
The True Number of People in Prison Who Have Jobs
While corrections departments around the country report that more than 80 per cent of people in prison are working, in reality only about half actually have employment while in custody. This is because of how these departments are reporting the rate of employment and who is counted as being “eligible”.
October 29, 2026
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4 MIN READ
Area 1-S Block Cell 120, by Megan, #5633, 40cm x 50c, acrylic on canvas, Boom Gate Gallery
ONLINE NEWS
No Fresh Air, Little Privacy: Inside Queensland’s Newest Youth Prison
Children are being held in an “overwhelmingly institutional” watch-house centre with little if any access to fresh air, few opportunities to call home and no privacy, according to a new report.
October 22, 2026
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2 MIN READ
Queensland Inspector of Custodial Services
ONLINE NEWS
Woman in Prison Wins High Court Fight to Freeze Her Eggs
The High Court of Australia on Wednesday ruled that a woman incarcerated in a Queensland prison should be allowed to freeze her eggs.
October 20, 2026
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3 MIN READ
Joseph Friedman
Archive
ISSUE NO. 9
April 2025
Around The Country – March 2025
By About Time
Including tough bail laws being introduced in Victoria, the South Australian Government ruling out raising the age of criminal responsibility, a new parole board president appointed in Queensland and more.
2-3 MIN READ EACH
ISSUE NO. 9
April 2025
The Policy Commitments of the Major Parties
By About Time
The Australian Federal election is coming up. This is about voting for the Prime Minister and other federal politicians. It will be held on 3 May 2025.
4 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 9
April 2025
The Ongoing Fight to Vote in Prison
By Denham Sadler
“We can’t get information about how a party or candidate’s policies must impact prisoners,” Kelly told About Time. “Prison officers also will not provide us with any information as it is seen as political.”
6 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 8
March 2025
Recognising the Rights of Incarcerated Workers
By Andreea Lachsz
Prison work differs across the country.
7 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 8
March 2025
Pride Without Police
By Stacey Stokes
The Midsumma Pride March sees tens of thousands march down Fitzroy Street in St Kilda, with many more turning out to cheer them on.
4 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 8
March 2025
Around the Country – February 2025
By About Time
Including Labor pushing for mandatory minimums for hate crimes and terror offences, the Age of Criminal Responsibility rising in 2025 in the ACT, new NSW laws to target antisemitism and hate speech and more.
2 – 3 MIN READ EACH
ISSUE NO. 8
March 2025
Victoria and ACT Cut the Price of Prison Phone Calls in Half
By Denham Sadler
From the start of February, people in prison in Victoria will now be charged 25c per minute to make a mobile phone call, down from the previous 57c per minute rate.
9 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 7
February 2025
Around the Country – January 2025
By Rosie Heselev
The latest in criminal justice around the country, including Grafton Gaol getting an upgrade that caters towards growing health needs, a new report on wellbeing within Tasmanian prisons, recent changes to parole laws in Queensland and more.
2 – 3 MIN READ EACH
ISSUE NO. 7
February 2025
The Future Shapers: Connecting Between the Divide
By Stacey Stokes
A program in Ballarat, Victoria is connecting regular community members with people in prison. The program, ‘The Future Shapers,’ conducts tours of local prisons and sit-down group interviews with inmates.
5 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 7
February 2025
"It Opens Up a Whole New World”: Book Clubs in Prison
By Denham Sadler
When a flyer was put up in the NSW Dillwynia Correctional Centre for a new book club last year, the program was filled in just three hours.
5 MIN READ
