Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

ISSUE NO. 14
September 2025
ISSUE NO. 14
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Sections
September 2025

News and Investigations

Each edition contains news articles and investigative pieces. These are topical stories that are usually about prisons and criminal justice.

We also summarise the latest criminal justice news around the country.

Latest
‘Navigating a Minefield’: The Mental Health Crisis in Australia’s Prisons
By Denham Sadler

It’s estimated that about a third of all people in prison in Australia have a mental health diagnosis. Despite the huge need for support and care, a lack of staffing across the country has meant that many people in prison have been unable to get help.

ISSUE NO. 14
3 MIN READ
Rethinking Risk Assessments in Prison Settings
What are risk assessments, and how do they work?
Stacey Stokes interviews Emma Russell

When an individual is assigned a risk classification of low, medium, or high risk by corrections, they have been given this classification through a risk assessment.

ISSUE NO. 14
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Around the Country – August 2025
By About Time

Including WA Federal Government raising concerns with criminal justice reforms, SA prison placement guidelines reviewed, child incarceration rates increasing in NSW and more.

ISSUE NO. 14
6 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
Heather Calgaret Inquest: Her Life Was Precious and Her Passing Was Preventable
This is a shortened version of a media release from Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), originally published on the day of the inquest findings

Heather Calgaret was a proud Yamatji, Noongar, Wongi and Pitjantjatjara woman.

ISSUE NO. 14
4 MIN READ
The Calgaret family outside the Coroner’s Court of Victoria
The Dark Side of Gains
By Ronin Cruise

Australian men are bulking up at alarming rates. But there’s a toxic truth beneath it all: steroid use.

ISSUE NO. 14
2 MIN READ
Victor Freitas via Unsplash
Archive

ISSUE NO. 10

May 2025

Around The Country – April 2025

By About Time

Including an ACT prison receiving funding for education, changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act being paused in QLD, NSW introducing “open clinics” to improve healthcare in prisons and more.

2-3 MIN READ EACH

ISSUE NO. 10

May 2025

“Kids Soften the Jail”: Keeping Mums and Kids Together in Prison

By Denham Sadler

The Living with Mum program is one of many across the country that permit women to raise their baby in a dedicated area of a prison. These programs vary in eligibility and age restrictions.

6 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 9

April 2025

Around The Country – March 2025

By About Time

Including tough bail laws being introduced in Victoria, the South Australian Government ruling out raising the age of criminal responsibility, a new parole board president appointed in Queensland and more.

2-3 MIN READ EACH

ISSUE NO. 9

April 2025

The Policy Commitments of the Major Parties

By About Time

The Australian Federal election is coming up. This is about voting for the Prime Minister and other federal politicians. It will be held on 3 May 2025.

4 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 9

April 2025

The Ongoing Fight to Vote in Prison

By Denham Sadler

“We can’t get information about how a party or candidate’s policies must impact prisoners,” Kelly told About Time. “Prison officers also will not provide us with any information as it is seen as political.”

6 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 8

March 2025

Recognising the Rights of Incarcerated Workers

By Andreea Lachsz

Prison work differs across the country.

7 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 8

March 2025

Pride Without Police

By Stacey Stokes

The Midsumma Pride March sees tens of thousands march down Fitzroy Street in St Kilda, with many more turning out to cheer them on.

4 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 8

March 2025

Around the Country – February 2025

By About Time

Including Labor pushing for mandatory minimums for hate crimes and terror offences, the Age of Criminal Responsibility rising in 2025 in the ACT, new NSW laws to target antisemitism and hate speech and more.

2 – 3 MIN READ EACH

ISSUE NO. 8

March 2025

Victoria and ACT Cut the Price of Prison Phone Calls in Half

By Denham Sadler

From the start of February, people in prison in Victoria will now be charged 25c per minute to make a mobile phone call, down from the previous 57c per minute rate.

9 MIN READ

ISSUE NO. 7

February 2025

Around the Country – January 2025

By About Time

The latest in criminal justice around the country, including Grafton Gaol getting an upgrade that caters towards growing health needs, a new report on wellbeing within Tasmanian prisons, recent changes to parole laws in Queensland and more.

2 – 3 MIN READ EACH
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About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

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