Prison
After two years of waiting Schapelle Corby has been granted clemency. That’s legalese for asking for mercy. Or, in Corby’s case a more lenient sentence.

It’s believed today’s judgment will cut her 20-year sentence short by up to five years. According to Sky News: “Under Indonesian law, she would be eligible for parole after having served two-thirds of her sentence, meaning that the five-year cut to her prison term could see her released later this year.”
News.com.au reports Corby sought appeal back in 2010 after suffering significant physical and mental health issues since being behind bars.
Continue reading "Corby to be released - but does anyone still care?" »
Bradley Umar Sariff Baladjam, part-time actor, part-time bomb-maker is not happy at the prospect of serving longer than his current 14 year sentence, because the prison library is not up to scratch.

Currently ensconced behind the walls of Goulburn’s Supermax prison, Baladjam told his barrister that not only were the prison library’s opening hours far too short, he finds their collection lacking, especially books on maths and Islamic art. He’s been forced to use his Year 9 textbook to pass the time.
Now we can’t have that. Say what you will about Australian prisons and our rising rates of recidivism, but the last thing we want is bored prisoners. Who knows what else they’ll choose to get up to in there. Serving time for bad deeds is obviously necessary, but serving time without books is quite another altogether.
Continue reading "What’s on your reading list for prison?" »
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Kate says:
Books for prisons are a great idea and could be life changing. The perfect escape. My list: Till we have faces: A myth retold by C.S. Lewis; The Orientalist by Tom Reiss; My brother Jack by George Johnston; The Mango Tree by Ronald McKie; The Mists of Avalon by Marion… Read more »
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Jess says:
A series of Unfortunate Events Charlie Brown; Garfield etc; biographies of Refugees and enterpruners Bryce Courtney Catherine Cookson Clive Cussler The Darwin Awards Dan Brown Paul Jennings James Moloney Christopher Pike Maybe true crime books Assorted maths science and language text books anything in the top 20 at any given… Read more »
It would take a brave government to decriminalise drugs – even if it was just marijuana, which is generally less harmful than alcohol. I doubt, somehow, that we’ll see it happen anytime soon, despite the mounting evidence that the ‘war on drugs’ has failed, and was doomed to fail from the very beginning.

It’s too radical and counter-intuitive for governments that are locked in a death spiral of talking tough - tough on borders, tough on crime, tough on drugs.
So this latest report, to be released today by Australia21, will fall on deaf ears despite Foreign Minister Bob Carr’s endorsement, and the involvement of Australia’s top minds on drugs and addiction and policy.
Continue reading "War on drugs is just a political smokescreen" »
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Nik says:
I’m not saying I disagree, but when making claims in a news article, such as “even if it was just marijuana, which is generally less harmful than alcohol”, please refer readers to a medical study / publication validating your point. I’d hate to think a journalist would use such phrases… Read more »
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Trish Hunt says:
It doesn’t change the fact that Bob Carr is a dope. Decriminalising alcohol lead to increased deaths from it so the evidence is pretty clear that the journalist is spinning wheels when saying it is deadlier than a drug which is well documented as having all the ills of alcohol… Read more »
Kat Armstrong was a heroin addict, disowned by her only daughter and serving a prison sentence of ten years.

Vulnerable to relapse, with no support, no money, no home and no skills, her biggest challenge was returning to the real world.
Clean for eight years, reunited with her daughter and mentoring other women inmates all over NSW, Armstrong’s journey is exceptional. The fact that she’s still alive is amazing.
Continue reading "Do the crime, do the time. So where’s the long-term fix?" »
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Carolyn says:
Yours are good suggestions. If you’re interested in prisoners and what might make a positive impact on them, you might be interested in The 4th Annual National Prisoner’s Family Conference, to be held in Albuquerque next February, See http://www.solutionsforelpaso.org or check Prisoners Family Conference on Facebook for details. Read more »
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Primy says:
By my count Bob 66, that’s eleven people who have been reached by you. You may never know it, probably won’t, but there may be ripples running out of your story/life that reaches other people and makes a difference. We have read your thoughts, and we have been moved enough… Read more »
I don’t know about you, but I always over-pack. What’s the point in taking a suitcase if it’s not full to the brim?
So I’m starting to wonder how Gordon Nuttall managed it.
The disgraced, former Queensland health and industrial relations minister had to pack for the next seven years that he’ll spend in prison after being found guilty of corruption. Now that requires some serious planning.
Continue reading "Go directly to jail, with your incarceration coach" »
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JaniceFINLEY says:
The greatest way to get good enough quality essays is to come to the respected research paper writing services. I know that some papers writing firms offer really good prices. Read more »
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People have a privilege to select the college essay writing services. There’re a lot of essay papers writing corporations in the internet. Thence, it is real to choose most professional corporation between hundreds of frauds! Read more »
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