Ebrius Disputatios

How Many Aussies Are Rotting In Jail For Words?

Joel Davis was released on bail yesterday, after spending 133 days in solitary confinement for words he allegedly posted online, that no one is alleging resulted in any real world harm.

Fortunately for Joel, he has thousands of highly motivated friends and supporters worldwide, some with massive platforms in the US and Europe, and was therefore able to crowdfund enough money to pay for a great legal team, and his profile guaranteed media attention.

But even so, it took Joel more than four months, tens of thousands of dollars, and four bail applications before he was let out under extremely strict conditions.

Nor was it a foregone conclusion.

The police and prosecutors used everything they could to keep him in jail, in conditions the NSW prison watchdog recently called “inhumane”, until his trial, which they admitted may not occur until late 2027.