In this powerful episode, Rev. Jim sits down with Jo, the administrator of the Facebook group Jailing Truths Exposed, and Rhys, a recently released inmate, to confront the uncomfortable realities of Australia’s correctional system.

Jo shares her ongoing mission to bring the voices of detainees into the halls of government, engaging MPs and decision-makers in an effort to reform a system that she believes is failing both inmates and the broader community. Her advocacy highlights a simple truth: incarceration without rehabilitation only deepens trauma and drives recidivism.

Rhys provides a raw, first-hand account of prison life, lifting the veil on the disturbing truths hidden from the public eye. He explains how Corrective Services do little to prepare people for life beyond the walls, offering no structure, no reintegration pathways, and no real chance of transformation. Instead, the system releases people more damaged than before, fuelling the cycle of re-offending.

The conversation points to international examples, such as Halden Prison in Norway, where rehabilitation and dignity are central, and recidivism rates remain among the lowest in the world. By contrast, Australia continues to invest in larger prisons, perpetuating what MP Andrew Leigh has described as our “second convict age.”

This episode challenges listeners to ask: Are we truly correcting, or are we simply warehousing people at enormous taxpayer expense? With insights from Jo and Rhys, Rev. Jim explores why change is essential, why building more prisons isn’t the answer, and why support and opportunity, not punishment alone, are the keys to genuine reform.

Support the show

Host - Rev Jim

Producer - Shane Bitschkat

Production Company - Iron Monarch Studios

Language - English

Origin - Australia