Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

ISSUE NO. 15
October 2025

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
Parole Undermined
By Daniel Vansetten

Ideally, parole should enhance rehabilitation and reintegration. In the recent decade, however, rules restricting the granting of parole and a lack of housing options undermine these intended benefits.

ISSUE NO. 15
3 MIN READ
About Time
Wrongful Convictions May Be Happening Undetected
By Denham Sadler

Kathleen Folbigg walked free from a prison in New South Wales in 2023 after serving 20 years in jail following a wrongful conviction.

ISSUE NO. 15
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
About Time Launches in Western Australia
By About Time

People in prison in Western Australia will soon have access to Australia’s national prison newspaper for the first time, with About Time launching in the state in October.

BREAKING
2 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
Around the Country – September 2025
By About Time

Including overcrowding impacting service delivery in youth prisons in the ACT, prison officers going on strike in the NT, a second set of bail reforms passing in VIC and more.

ISSUE NO. 15
6 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
Mental Health Services in Prison Successfully Billed to Medicare
By Damien Linnane

Earlier this year, in what may be an Australian first, over-the-phone mental health appointments from prison were arranged and bulk-billed under Medicare.

ISSUE NO. 15
2 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Pentridge Prison’s Hidden Music History Unearthed
By Allison Harding

Did you know the bluestone walls of Pentridge Prison once reverberated with the sounds of reggae, punk, pop and country?

ISSUE NO. 15
3 MIN READ
Image supplied by Footscray Records
Reports of Unsafe Drinking Water in Prisons Across Australia
By Denham Sadler

While access to clean drinking water is a basic human right for people in prison, there have been a number of recent reports of dirty and metallic-tasting drinking water in prisons around the country, raising concerns over the health impact of consuming such water.

BREAKING
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
What are Drug Courts?
By Stacey Stokes

Drug Courts are specialist courts that can provide an alternative to imprisonment for those who have offended due to drug dependency.

ISSUE NO. 15
4 MIN READ
Entrance to Drug Court at Dandenong
Archive

ISSUE NO. 11

June 2025

‘Nowhere Near Enough’: More Housing Needed for People Leaving Prison

By Denham Sadler

A lack of access to stable housing is a key reason why many people reoffend and return to prison. It’s also a main reason why people are denied parole and kept in prison for longer.

7 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 10

May 2025

Recent Major Elections Around the World

By Denham Sadler

Historically, the party in power (the ‘incumbent’) has had an advantage going into an election. That all changed last year.

6 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 10

May 2025

Vale Andrew Krakouer: The Comeback Man

By Tony Heselev

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following article contains the image of a deceased person.

5 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 10

May 2025

Healing Justice: A Better Way Forward

By Tabitha Lean & Debbie Kilroy (National Network of Incarcerated & Formerly Incarcerated Women & Girls)

When people experience harm – whether through violence, trauma or the legal system – what they often need most is support, safety and healing. But too often our systems respond with punishment instead of care.

2 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 10

May 2025

Changes to the Law in Victoria: Expanded Police Powers and Machetes as Prohibited Weapons

By Lauren Tye Legal

Critics of these amendments argue this policy will result in significant over-policing and racial profiling.

2 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 10

May 2025

Around The Country – April 2025

By About Time

Including an ACT prison receiving funding for education, changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act being paused in QLD, NSW introducing “open clinics” to improve healthcare in prisons and more.

2-3 MIN READ EACH

ISSUE NO. 10

May 2025

“Kids Soften the Jail”: Keeping Mums and Kids Together in Prison

By Denham Sadler

The Living with Mum program is one of many across the country that permit women to raise their baby in a dedicated area of a prison. These programs vary in eligibility and age restrictions.

6 MIN READ

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
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