ISSUE NO. 20
March 2026
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Letters

An Idea to Reduce Drugs and Violence in Prison

By
Melissa

Melissa writes from a prison in WA.

Willy Pleasance

To About Time,

I have been in the system a long time. I believe that we as prisoners should be heard a lot more.

I’ve written to nearly everyone available to us on the confidential mail envelopes with my idea that I believe will reduce drugs through the prison system and also reduce violence.

If we had the opportunity to get two months off every 12 months of our sentences for good behaviour, with the condition of being completely drug free with no instigation of violence at all, believe me, every single person will reconsider misbehaving and getting high.

But the decision is left to the prison officers who have daily interactions with us to decide. I don’t believe a prisoner review board who know us merely by our past behaviour is sufficient.

The only response I’ve gotten from my letters with this idea is that it would require legislative changes and not even the Minister for Corrective Services could give me someone to write to to change legislations. Hopefully you can help.

Thank you

To About Time,

I have been in the system a long time. I believe that we as prisoners should be heard a lot more.

I’ve written to nearly everyone available to us on the confidential mail envelopes with my idea that I believe will reduce drugs through the prison system and also reduce violence.

If we had the opportunity to get two months off every 12 months of our sentences for good behaviour, with the condition of being completely drug free with no instigation of violence at all, believe me, every single person will reconsider misbehaving and getting high.

But the decision is left to the prison officers who have daily interactions with us to decide. I don’t believe a prisoner review board who know us merely by our past behaviour is sufficient.

The only response I’ve gotten from my letters with this idea is that it would require legislative changes and not even the Minister for Corrective Services could give me someone to write to to change legislations. Hopefully you can help.

Thank you

Lessons from Bees

By Muhamed

Prison teaches people to hold back. To keep to themselves. To give as little as possible. To protect what little energy or hope they have left. When everything feels limited – time, freedom, trust – it makes sense to think that giving more will leave you with less. But the bee lives by a different rule.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Albany Prisoners on Lockdowns

By Prisoners at Albany Prison, WA

We are not sure who to write to or who we can talk to about theses matters. We are hoping someone reads our letter and can point us in the right direction to have our voices heard.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

1 MIN READ

Rights for Foreign Prisoners

By Luiing

If foreign prisoners have been sentenced under same law as Australians, then it’s extremely important that they have right to be treat equally in their imprisonment – on humanitarian grounds.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Not Cool: Heat and Overcrowding in TMCC

By Dane

The following is in response to the article by Denham Sadler titled “Sweltering Behind Bars: Stifling Heat in Australian prisons”.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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