ISSUE NO. 22
MAY 2026

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

Making Prison Visits Better

By Denham Sadler

With Mother’s Day this month, prison visits have never been more important. But for children with a parent in prison, or other loved ones, this process can be scary and intimidating, with a lot of rules and conditions.

ISSUE NO. 22
4 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy

Around the Country – April 2026

By About Time

Including the prison population growing in the ACT, a drug bust during a prison visit in Victoria, Hakea inmates suing state government in WA and more.

ISSUE NO. 22
5 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy

Australia’s Oldest Prison Vegetable Garden?

By Hayley McKee

The men at Fremantle Prison learnt how to grow fresh food by planting concentrated rows of sturdy cabbage, corn, carrots, spring onions and other edible plants that could withstand the harsh WA sun. At its peak, the garden supplied the prison kitchen with more than 10,000 kilograms of fruit and vegetables each year.

ISSUE NO. 22
3 MIN READ
Fremantle Prison Parade Ground Gardens, 1970, Courtesy Fremantle Prison

New Civil Law Service for Women in NSW Prisons

By About Time

The Women’s Advocacy Service is a partnership between Legal Aid NSW and the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), providing face-to-face appointments with both a lawyer and a social worker.

ISSUE NO. 22
2 MIN READ
Gabrielle Hender for Unsplash

We Need You: Maximum Security Unit Review Consultation

By Prisoners' Legal Service Queensland

The Inspector of Detention Services Queensland is undertaking a review of Maximum Security Units (MSUs) at Arthur Gorrie, Brisbane and Woodford Correctional Centres.

ISSUE NO. 22
3 MIN READ
katerha via Flickr

Who’s Watching the Prisons? Introducing ‘Inspector’s Corner’

Your monthly review of prison oversight

By About Time

There are a number of groups around the country that inspect prisons and provide feedback and recommendations to governments. These often involve visiting prisons and talking directly to people in custody.

ISSUE NO. 22
2 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy
ONLINE NEWS

Victoria Pours $229m Into New Prison Beds

By Denham Sadler

The Victorian government will spend $229 million on new prison beds, five times what it has allocated to programs aiming to keep people out of them.

May 7, 2026
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
ONLINE NEWS

Voices From Prison Lockdowns

By Denham Sadler

Australia is in the midst of an epidemic of prison lockdowns. There is often little or no warning that these lockdowns are going to happen, leaving many people in virtual solitary confinement for hours or days.

May 7, 2026
4 MIN READ
Ike Curtis

Archive

ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025

Around the Country – July 2025

By About Time

Including Victoria increasing jail time for posting crimes online, ACT raising the age of criminal responsibility, WA calling for internet access for those studying on the inside and more.

2-3 MIN READ EACH
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025

Reintegration Conference Held in Alice Springs

By About Time

In June, people from across the country gathered in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) for the 18th Reintegration Puzzle Conference – an annual event for those working in justice reform, as well as those with lived experience of prison and reintegration.

3 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025

How Your Prison Journey Can Lead to Meaningful Work

By Stacey Stokes

People who’ve been incarcerated have a unique and valuable perspective. Remember – lived experience can open doors to meaningful employment once you’re released. It could be a fulfilling job filled with community, purpose and support.

3 MIN READ
BREAKING
May 1, 2026

About Time at the Reintegration Puzzle Conference 2025

By About Time

In June, people from across the country gathered in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) for the 18th Reintegration Puzzle Conference — an annual event for those working in justice reform and those with lived experience of prison and reintegration. 

4 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 12
July 2025

Ice Cube Drops Wisdom on Jailbreak Radio

By Kate Pinnock

The godfather of hip hop, rapper, and filmmaker Ice Cube from Los Angeles spoke exclusively to prison radio show ‘Jailbreak’  about his own experiences in the American prison system.

4 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 12
July 2025

An Unexpected Exclusive with Australian Fugitive, Markis Turner

By Damien Linnane

Markis is the alleged ‘mastermind’ behind a scheme to import more than 71 kilos of cocaine to Australia. He fled the country while on bail, and was caught after two years on the run in the Philippines. That was 2017. He’s been detained here ever since.

5 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 12
July 2025

Around the Country – June 2025

By About Time

Including an inspection of court custody centres in WA, Victoria enforcing the nation's strictest machete ban, Tasmanians returning to the polls and more.

2-3 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 12
July 2025

Money, Money, Money

By Stacey Stokes

A report by Financial Counselling Australia said this is a form of “double punishment”, with people leaving prison in a worse financial position than when they entered it because the system is “stacked against them”.

3 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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