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

Anti-Racism Statement

Prisoners’ Legal Service (PLS) has zero tolerance for racism in any form.

Racism causes real harm to individuals, communities and institutions. It undermines dignity, safety and equality and creates significant barriers to justice. For people in prison—many of whom already experience social, economic and legal disadvantage—racism compounds these injustices and creates barriers to accessing legal rights, services and fair treatment.

Racism occurs through behaviour, language and attitudes that demean, exclude or discriminate against people because of their race, ethnicity, nationality, colour or cultural background. It also occurs through policies, practices and systems that create unequal outcomes and barriers for racialised communities. It may be overt or covert, direct or indirect, intentional or unintentional. Racism also operates at individual, institutional and systemic levels. In any form, racism causes harm and will not be accepted. PLS recognises that racism is embedded within many of the systems and institutions that shape the criminal justice system. Challenging and addressing racism is therefore central to our work to protect human rights, promote fairness and improve access to justice for people in custody.

PLS also recognises the disproportionate impact of incarceration on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the ongoing effects of colonisation and systemic inequality within the justice system. We acknowledge the importance of culturally safe legal services and respect for First Nations peoples, their cultures and their rights.

PLS actively challenges racism in our organisation, our advocacy and the justice system. We are committed to providing services that are respectful, inclusive and culturally safe, where all clients are treated with dignity and can access help free from racism, discrimination, harassment or vilification. If racism is seen, experienced or reported in our organisation or in our work, we will act to address it and prevent further harm.

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)