ISSUE NO. 23
JUNE 2026

Letters

About Time dedicates many of its pages to publishing the letters of people in prison, as well as from their family and friends.

This is the centrepiece of the paper: a platform for people to share their experiences and learn from each other.

Latest

Keeping My Head Out of Trouble

By Stellios

I just keep my head out of trouble and out of politics, lol. I find the time goes very quickly when I keep a great routine going for myself.

ISSUE NO. 23
1 MIN READ
Andrey Novik via Unsplash

Sending Love to My Son

By Anonymous

As a devoted mother having to accept the fact that my son was going to prison was soul destroying.

ISSUE NO. 23
1 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
By Anonymous

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

ISSUE NO. 23
2 MIN READ
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.

ISSUE NO. 23
1 MIN READ
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.

ISSUE NO. 23
3 MIN READ
By Dane

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

ISSUE NO. 23
3 MIN READ
By Gabrielle

We have limited options regarding studying whilst incarcerated. I am midway through an arts degree, however, once I am released, I am re-routing towards politics/law.

ISSUE NO. 23
1 MIN READ
By Luke

I recently have been put in the medium precinct, and I had put a request form asking what the costs were to order the Examiner newspaper.

ISSUE NO. 23
1 MIN READ
By Kane

My first time in jail was a shock to the system. I have learned quickly that routine is key. Getting your exercise, diet, mental health, maintaining social encounters; it truly helps.

ISSUE NO. 23
1 MIN READ

Previous Editions

ISSUE NO. 18
January 2026

I Should've Gone To Specsavers

By Alexandra

I moved units about a month ago and we feed some stray cats here. One even let me pat her last night! It's been over a year since I've patted an animal, so you can imagine how excited I was!

1 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 18
January 2026

Program Helping My Mental Health

By Anonymous

GROW is a community-based national organisation that works on mental wellbeing using a 12 step program of personal growth of mutual help and support. It operates through weekly peer support groups.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 18
January 2026

Education Not Incarceration

By Jack

Why are jails so populated by people who are uneducated? What is being missed by the courts and cops and the community that the process of jailing people is formed around the process of not educating people or not identifying the problems in school?

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 18
January 2026

My Advice to Others Inside

By Aaron

I’ve made the most of my time in jail this time and have made myself a promise to not just waste my time here, but to learn as much as I can, study, get fit, do as many programs as possible, and come out a better person than I came in as. I've achieved that, and more.

3 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 18
January 2026

The Need for Compassion in End-of-Life Prison Care

By Laurence

What I’m hoping to achieve by writing this is awareness of the care I receive and the stubbornness of the exceptional circumstances parole in Queensland.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 18
January 2026

The Cost of Contact – New Prison Phone Fees Punish the Poor

By Anonymous

We are encouraged to maintain contact with our support people, our wives, our families, and our friends. This upcoming price increase will reduce the amount of contact we will be able to have with our supports.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

How I’ve GROWn

By Trevor

GROW is a community-based national organisation that works on mental wellbeing using a 12-step program of personal growth, mutual help and support. It operates through weekly peer support groups.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

‘Protection’ at the Cost of Human Rights

By Timmy

In New South Wales, there were previously three levels of protective custody for vulnerable inmates, such as myself, who have autism spectrum disorder and other mental health issues.

1 MIN RED
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

Rest in Paradise, Alithea

By Adrielle

I am writing to you about my one and only older sister, Alithea. RIP. It’s been 2 months since I lost you.

2 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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

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