ISSUE NO. 22
MAY 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

Why Mum Can’t Come Home

Stories I tell my children

By Hannah

I am currently remanded and I have two young children. My son is 8 and my daughter is 6. I have never told them that I’m in jail and instead explain to them that I’m at a facility that helps mummys and daddys get their minds and bodies strong again.

I’ve struggled to explain to them the lengthy time periods I’ve spent away from home, so recently I wrote them both a story that tried to explain why I’m not always around.

ISSUE NO. 22
2 MIN READ
Ike Curtis

‘I Try, I Really Do’

By Lynda

Mum I wish you knew how much I care, and how much I miss you when you’re not there.

ISSUE NO. 22
1 MIN READ

From a Mum With Her Son in Jail

By Lorraine

Living grief, as a mother, is waking each day with the knowledge that your child is still here, yet not truly free.

ISSUE NO. 22
2 MIN READ

Handling Family Issues From Prison

By Amos

Family issues trouble you the most while you are in the custody. Maybe you have a spouse or children. Or you may have close relationship with some members of the family. Some of us might have children in different states or overseas.

ISSUE NO. 22
2 MIN READ
By Dane

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

ISSUE NO. 22
2 MIN READ
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.

ISSUE NO. 22
2 MIN READ
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.

ISSUE NO. 22
1 MIN READ
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.

ISSUE NO. 22
2 MIN READ

Previous Editions

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
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

Let Them Go Home

By Ed

Well, I’m writing this letter in relation to the housing crisis, which is a problem for many inmates trying to find a place to live.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

‘You Got This, Aye!’

By Belly

I have a short poem as well as a mindfulness technique called “Distress Tolerance”.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

I Am Not My Crime

By Brendan

I encourage everyone who is incarcerated not to identify with your crime. Rather, identify with something higher, wider and greater than that.

1 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

Time Stands Still for No Man

By Andrew

Hey guys, I love getting the chance to read about other prisoners all around the country each month and thought I would share my story.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 16
November 2025

Drawing My Way Out of Prison

By Edward

I was always drawing as a kid, and when the opportunity came up to do an art course at age 17 I went for it.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 16
November 2025

How Metal and Punk Music Saved My Life

By Aidan

I remember our living room used to be filled with hundreds of CDs. My mum is where my love of music came from.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 16
November 2025

Gratefulness and Grit

By Daniel

You can have as many support workers and parole officers as you can get, but it will never make you stop doing crimes. It has to come from within yourself.

3 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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