Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

ISSUE NO. 16
NOVEMBER 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
Letters From Home Lost to the Photocopier
By Denham Sadler

“I went from writing every day to basically not writing at all by the end, because it was so poorly photocopied or it was delayed,” Sarah told About Time.

ISSUE NO. 16
4 MIN READ
Ike Curtis
BREAKING
When Your Child is Charged
By Elizabeth

When your adult child does something that you don't agree with and you have no say in it – that's hard.

BREAKING
4 MIN READ
Benjamin Aitken
BREAKING
About Time Launches in Western Australia
By About Time

People in prison in Western Australia will soon have access to Australia’s national prison newspaper for the first time, with About Time launching in the state in October.

BREAKING
2 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
BREAKING
Reports of Unsafe Drinking Water in Prisons Across Australia
By Denham Sadler

While access to clean drinking water is a basic human right for people in prison, there have been a number of recent reports of dirty and metallic-tasting drinking water in prisons around the country, raising concerns over the health impact of consuming such water.

BREAKING
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
A Year of Being ‘Tough on Crime’
By Stacey Stokes

Is the NT walking into a more criminalised and less safe future?

ISSUE NO. 16
2 MIN READ
Rico via Unsplash
Around the Country – October 2025
By About Time

Including the criminal age of responsibility rising to 12 in VIC, prison whistleblower protections proposed for TAS, the bar being lowered to prove prison misconduct in NSW and more.

ISSUE NO. 16
8 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
Rising Remand Numbers Drive Increase to Victoria’s Prison Population
By About Time

The Sentencing Advisory Council report tracks the prison population in Victoria from 2004 to 2024, finding that it grew by 62 per cent in this time, far more than the less than 40 per cent increase in the general population of the state.

ISSUE NO. 16
1 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
The Importance of Radio in Prison
By Benjamin Aitken

A certain song at the right moment can anchor someone to memories, to hope or simply to themselves.

ISSUE NO. 16
3 MIN READ
Benjamin Aitken
Archive
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
ISSUE NO. 7
February 2025

The Future Shapers: Connecting Between the Divide

By Stacey Stokes

A program in Ballarat, Victoria is connecting regular community members with people in prison. The program, ‘The Future Shapers,’ conducts tours of local prisons and sit-down group interviews with inmates.

5 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 7
February 2025

"It Opens Up a Whole New World”: Book Clubs in Prison

By Denham Sadler

When a flyer was put up in the NSW Dillwynia Correctional Centre for a new book club last year, the program was filled in just three hours.

5 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 6
December 2024

Around the Country – November 2024

By About Time

The latest in criminal justice around the country, including prison overcrowding in WA, government stalls on gambling reforms, new reforms strengthening laws against strangulation and more.

2 – 3 MIN READ EACH
ISSUE NO. 6
December 2024

Improving Job Options for Women Exiting the Justice System

By Cathy Campesato, WAM and FIGJAM members

The journey back to employment for women with a criminal record can be challenging but also transformative. It requires a comprehensive approach that addresses immediate needs, builds skills, provides support, creates valuable employment opportunities and tackles systemic barriers.

3 MIN READ

Finding Community After Prisons

By Nina Storey

The Untold Stories of Injustice is a five-part radio series that features a collection of interviews, discussions and events highlighting the experiences of folks who have been incarcerated in so-called Victoria, Australia.  

3 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 6
December 2024

The Benefits of Prison Pen-Pal Programs

By Denham Sadler

Prison pen-pal programs have been found to improve the health and wellbeing of those in prison, and their rehabilitation, thanks to improved connections with
the general community.

6 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 5
November 2024

Around the Country – October 2024

By About Time

The latest in criminal justice around the country, including a calling for reform on Youth Justice, the age of criminal responsibility being reduced to 10 in the NT and a potential end to strip searches for women in QLD prisons.

1 – 3 MIN READ EACH
ISSUE NO. 5
November 2024

New Evidence Shows Racial Profiling by Police Continues

By Dr Tamar Hopkins

Racial profiling is a concern for policing across the country.

5 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 5
November 2024

States Set to Improve Computer Access in Cells

By Denham Sadler

Several states are looking to improve access to technologies in prison cells, with some also to provide limited access to the internet and email.

8 MIN READ
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