About Us

Established in 1985, PLS is an independent not-for-profit community legal centre, dedicated to helping people in prison.

PLS is accredited by the National Association of Community Legal Centres and receives operational funding from the State and Federal Governments.

PLS employs a small team comprised of a Director/Principal Solicitor, a Finance Officer/Administrator, two solicitors, and part-time administration support.

PLS is presided over by a voluntary management committee comprised of:

• Samuel Lane, Chairperson (Higgins Chambers)
• Ben Tuckett, Secretary (LawRight)
• Matilda Alexander, Treasurer (Queensland Advocacy Incorporated)
• Matt Woods (Woods Prince Lawyers)
• Mark Thomas (Queensland University of Technology)
• Lars Falcongreen (Legal Aid Queensland)
• Samantha Cooper (Community Legal Centres Queensland)

  PLS Strategic Plan

   Our vision:

     Helping people who are vulnerable in prison to access justice.

   Our mission:

• To prevent and address human rights violations in prison.
• To abolish the use of solitary confinement in prison.
• To increase safe release from prison through parole.
• To promote rehabilitation and reduction of recidivism.
• To reduce imprisonment rates for First Nations people.
• To reduce imprisonment rates for people with disability.

   Our values:

• Accessibility
• Accountability
• Compassion
• Dignity
• Equity
• Protection of human rights
• Respect
• Transparency
• Recognition of First Nations sovereignty

PLS provides information and advice to address issues arising from imprisonment such as:

• human rights violations,
• the use of solitary confinement,
• satisfying parole eligibility requirements to achieve safe release, and
• obtaining access to rehabilitation.

PLS can provide a limited number of people in prison with representation in relation to the above issues. Due to the high demand for assistance and limited resources available, PLS staff must apply eligibility criteria when selecting clients to receive this assistance. You can find a copy of the criteria here. 

If you need help with any of these issues, or are unsure where to go, please contact us.

• ‘Prisoners need access to lawyers urgently’ (QLS Proctor, February 2022)
• ‘Queensland Parole Board applications backlog forcing prisoners to wait up to a year for a decision’ (ABC, November 2021)
• ‘Prisoners kept behind bars for months amid parole board backlog’ (Brisbane Times, April 2021)
• ‘Afghan asylum seeker wins High Court case against Immigration Minister’ (Brisbane Times, March 2021)
• ‘Queensland prisoners approved for parole set to spend Gravy Day, Christmas in jail’ (ABC, December 2020)
• ‘Imposed isolation plagues Queensland prisons during pandemic’ (QLS Proctor, December 2020)
• ‘Some prisoners spending 22 hours a day in solitary confinement due to Queensland Covid lockdown’ (Guardian, September 2020)
• ‘Advocates demand an end to solitary confinement for at-risk prisoners’ (ABC, August 2020)