Lock Up: Behind the bars at gaols in Australia and New Zealand tells the story of the infamous prisons that have housed our criminals since colonial times right up to the present day. Along the way, it looks at the great escapes, tragic executions, paranormal activity, major crimes and notorious inmates. Those featured include Ned Kelly, Darcy Dugan, Ivan Milat, Ronald Ryan, Raymond John Denning, Robert Wallath, George Wilder, Frederick Deeming (at one time reputed to be England's 'Jack the Ripper') and Kereopa Te Rau (also known as 'the Eye Eater'). Lock Up also looks at the development of prison design in Australia and New Zealand, from the early examples based on traditional British designs to the modern-day electronic fortresses modelled on US penitentiaries. John Miller also looks at the progression of criminal justice from the harsh days of capital punishment and executions to modern-day reform methods. This is a journey through the most well-known jails of Australia and New Zealand, including the juvenile prison from which many of Australia's worst criminals 'graduated' during the 1960s - Tamworth's 'finishing school for crims'.

Author Biography

John Miller has been a journalist and editor for more than 35 years and has also used his wordsmithing skills to write a number of non-fiction books on aspects of Australian history and the unique Australian psyche, including the bestselling The Essential Lingo Dictionary of Australian Words and Phrases.