ISSUE NO. 3
September 2024
ISSUE NO. 3
+
Sections
September 2024
Donate Here

Letters

My Time in Here Will Not Define Me

By
Storm

Storm writes from Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison (MHWP) in Tasmania. She sent us several poems and a song, which we hope to publish in coming editions.

'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

12 months into being remanded in custody. I’m still yet to be sentenced – hence I can’t see the end at all. I’m trying hard to make something of my time here, writing A LOT, doing heaps of artwork, studying at uni, doing literally ALL the therapy available to me here and any other short courses I can get into. I had a clean record before this but could get anywhere from 2-9 years for my major charge.

I’m trying to advocate for change within this flawed system and have been using my lived experience to write to many external entities about the state of affairs in here. Often that means my time is made somewhat harder. But

I only hope that in the future other inmates feel confident that they too have a voice and that their time is made easier.

I plan to continue with uni inside and outside and pursue a Law degree so I’m more able to try to implement positive changes for people incarcerated and to advocate for myself and others.

I hope to not let my time here define me, but to make good use of this time to better myself as well as the system which keeps me here.

I urge everyone to do the same. Stay on the up and up, no matter how hard it gets, no matter how long you’re here – make it count for something and do better in the future — for yourself, your family and for your community around you.

Love + respect.

From Storm.

12 months into being remanded in custody. I’m still yet to be sentenced – hence I can’t see the end at all. I’m trying hard to make something of my time here, writing A LOT, doing heaps of artwork, studying at uni, doing literally ALL the therapy available to me here and any other short courses I can get into. I had a clean record before this but could get anywhere from 2-9 years for my major charge.

I’m trying to advocate for change within this flawed system and have been using my lived experience to write to many external entities about the state of affairs in here. Often that means my time is made somewhat harder. But

I only hope that in the future other inmates feel confident that they too have a voice and that their time is made easier.

I plan to continue with uni inside and outside and pursue a Law degree so I’m more able to try to implement positive changes for people incarcerated and to advocate for myself and others.

I hope to not let my time here define me, but to make good use of this time to better myself as well as the system which keeps me here.

I urge everyone to do the same. Stay on the up and up, no matter how hard it gets, no matter how long you’re here – make it count for something and do better in the future — for yourself, your family and for your community around you.

Love + respect.

From Storm.

Sistas, Support Each Other!

By Anonymous

This letter is to remind you all that, as Sistas, we need to be there for one another to raise women up.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

2 MIN READ

Strip Searches

By Nikita

It’s daunting enough when you get arrested by police, then placed into custody and thrown into a cell. Then you have to go through a degrading strip search.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

1 MIN READ

If It’s Broken, Then Fix It

By Andrew

I’ve spent most of my adult life behind bars, and I’m not proud to say it. It’s been such a bloody waste.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

3 MIN READ

Routine is Good, Not Bad

By Dane

Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in prison can relate to the concept of prison rituals and routines.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

3 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn

Help Us Keep Publishing About Time

Without About Time, I don’t know where I would be – Mark, from a prison in Victoria

We need your help so that we can print and distribute the paper to every person in every prison for at least the next year. We value whatever you can spare, no matter how big or small.

Australia’s prison population is growing, and our many prisons are spread far and wide.

We need your help so that we can print and distribute the paper to every person in every prison for at least the next year. We need your help to cover postage for anyone who sends us a letter from the inside.

We value whatever you can spare, no matter how big or small.