ISSUE NO. 20
MARCH 2026

Legal Corner

This section provides people in prison with information about their legal rights and how to make best use of them.

If you have any general legal questions that you would like to be answered, please let us know.

Latest

What Happens to Your Debts While You’re Inside?

By Prisoner Legal Service Queensland

Generally, debts can be put into two categories. First, there are private debts (e.g. from a bank, a landlord, a car dealer, or ‘Afterpay’). Second, there are debts owed to the State (e.g. unpaid fines).

ISSUE NO. 20
2 MIN READ
Alice Pasquale via Unsplash

Confusing Decision Made About You? Maybe FOI Can Help

By Dan Vansetten

The concern for those who are subjected to government decisions is that they often do not get to see the integrity of the information which was considered by the decision-maker and don’t get to check if it’s correct.

ISSUE NO. 20
3 MIN READ

Previous Editions

ISSUE NO. 14
September 2025

New Virtual Bail Courts in NSW

An explainer from the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited

The way the NSW court system deals with bail hearings on weekdays has changed.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025

Legal Q&A: Debt Relief

By Gazza

I am a first-time inmate in a Victorian prison and I am trying to obtain some accurate information with regards to my debts.

3 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025

Solitary Confinement as a Sentencing Factor

By Prisoners Legal Service

If a prisoner is detained in solitary confinement, the conditions they face in custody are significantly more challenging compared to the general prison population. In some cases, this may be taken into account by a sentencing court and result in a shorter sentence being imposed.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025

Video Court: What to Know

By About Time

This guide doesn’t assume fair treatment, but it hopes to offer some tools to help you navigate online court while in prison.

4 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 12
July 2025

Laws Around Strip Searches in Prisons

By Daniel Vansetten

Strip searching is a security practice purportedly used by prison authorities to prevent drugs and other contraband from entering prisons.

4 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 11
June 2025

Legal Q&A

By Brian

My name is Brian. A lot of guys here are talking about new legislation coming in the near future, but I haven’t found it anywhere. It is called “Daniel’s Law”. I was wondering if you could explain it and when it will take effect and who it will apply to?

3 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 10
May 2025

Parole Conditions in Queensland

By Prisoners' Legal Service

All parole orders must have conditions setting out what you are required to do and what you must not do while on parole.  

3 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 10
May 2025

Legal Q&A – Varying Intervention Orders

Question from Dylan, Port Phillip Prison

I was reading a section of ‘Australia’s National Prison Newspaper’ where it gave some information about bail but I couldn’t find any information about people trying to vary intervention orders (I.V.O).

4 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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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