Justice Project: Pro Bono Tool
Prisoners and detainees
More information about this project can be found here. 
This project has been endorsed by the Law Council of Australia.
Priorities identified in the Justice Project Final Report
Priorities Identified in the Justice Project Final Report[i]:
- Increase the availability of legal assistance services to prisoners, with particular emphasis on civil and family law matters and specialized services.
- Expand access to legal assistance for prisoners through the use of technology that complement rather than replace face-to-face legal services and court processes.
- Implement evidence-based policies and procedures that address the underlying drivers of imprisonment to avoid disproportionate and costly detention of juveniles, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people on remand, people experiencing family violence and people with disabilities.
- Prioritise investment in bail accommodation and support programs for remandees and post-release accommodation for former prisoners and parolees, especially women and people with disabilities.
- Establish criminal justice policies and procedures that address the distinct criminogenic profile of women offenders.
- More government funding for prison or detention-based therapeutic programs and throughcare programs, including those linked to legal assistance, with adequate evaluation processes and a particular focus on the needs of women and young people.
- Review and establish protocols at corrections and youth detention facilities that facilitate access to legal advice by prisoners and detainees, educate staff on cultural competence and awareness, increase staff awareness of family violence, build more informed referrals to appropriate support and rehabilitative programs and adopt trauma-informed approaches to respond to the needs of prisoners and juvenile detainees.
- Review and reform bail and parole laws and conditions, abolish mandatory sentencing regimes and consider Work and Development Order schemes to reduce overimprisonment of disadvantaged Australians.
Justice Project: Pro Bono Tool Summaries
Directory of Organisations
Quick links to organisations by location
Quick links to tables by location:
National
Organisations for prisoners and detainees
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice Action – A community-based organisation of criminal justice and mental health activists who seek to influence policy development to provide individuals in prisons access to tools and information needed to defend themselves.. They provide prisoner, mental health and court support and initiate campaigns to influence policy development. | Students, lawyers, ex-prisoners, families, media and marketing people are welcome to join the team. See here. | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 | ✔ | |
| Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse – Aim to reduce Indigenous over-representation in the criminal justice system and improve safety in Indigenous communities by providing policy makers and those working in the Indigenous justice field with quality, accessible information about Indigenous justice issues and ‘what works’. In addition to maintaining their website and database, they commission research briefs and current initiative papers. | 3,5, 6, 7, 8 | ✔ | ||
Campaigns
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change The Record – National Aboriginal-led justice coalition of legal, health and family violence prevention experts seeking to end the incarceration of, and family violence against, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Their ‘Blueprint for Change’ campaign calls for a whole government strategy, setting of justice targets and commitment to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. | To get involved in the campaign, see here. | 3, 7, 8 | ✔ | |
| Human Rights Law Centre – Run several campaigns on strengthening human rights, including ensuring prisons, youth justice centres and police cells comply with human rights. Their ‘Dignity for People in Prison’ impact area aims to persuade governments towards closing, rather than opening, prisons and that all people in prison are treated with dignity. | See here. | 3, 7, 8 | ✔ | |
| National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services – Represents and is the national voice of community-controlled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services. We advocate at the national level for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the justice system and work to ensure that our peoples have equitable access to justice. Leading the #CleanOutPrisons campaign for early release from prison of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. | To get involved in the campaign, see here. | 8 | ✔ | |
| #RaisetheAge – A campaign aimed to encourage the Australian government to raise the age of minimum criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years old, due to the harm and long term damage of young children in the criminal justice system. | 3, 8 | ✔ | ||
| ANTar – A national advocacy organisation that campaigns for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Done primarily through lobbying and public campaigns. Currently campaigning for the Black Lives Matter movement and against the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in prison. | See here. | 3, 7, 8 | ✔ |
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Organisations for prisoners and detainees
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHINE for Kids – Provides support services for children, young people and families with relatives in the criminal justice system. They run Child and Family Centres, a Prison Invisits Program, case management and referrals to their Early Intervention Placement Prevention program. They also engage in research and advocacy to improve community awareness and knowledge of recidivism and issues that affect children and families dealing with incarceration. | See here | 6 | ✔ |
Organisations with prisoner and detainee initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) – An Aboriginal community-controlled organisation which provides advice and representation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in criminal law, coronial inquests for deaths in custody, family law and children’s care and protection law. The ALS also contributes to law reform initiatives and advocates for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. | To express your interest in pro bono work, please email community@alsnswact.org.au. | 1, 2, 7 8 | ✔ | ✔ |
New South Wales (NSW)
Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In New South Wales, please contact Justice Connect.
Organisations for prisoners and detainees
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHINE for Kids – Provides support services for children, young people and families with relatives in the criminal justice system. They run Child and Family Centres, a Prison In-visits Program, case management and referrals to their Early Intervention Placement Prevention program. They also engage in research and advocacy to improve community awareness and knowledge of recidivism and issues that affect children and families dealing with incarceration. | See here | 6 | ✔ | |
| Community Restorative Centre – Provides specialist throughcare, post-release and reintegration programs for people transitioning from prison into the community. Most of CRC’s post-release services begin working with clients three months prior to release from custody, with referrals usually coming from Services and Programs Officers and prison unit parole officers. The exceptions to this are the Miranda Program for women at Penrith and our AOD counselling service. The Centre also provides a range of services to people involved in the criminal justice system and their families with the aim to reduce crime and break entrenched cycles of disadvantage, offending and imprisonment. This includes a free telephone and referral service, housing support, counselling, running the Court Support Scheme, and engaging in advocacy work and campaigns. | To become a member, see here | 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 | ✔ | |
| Women’s Justice Network – A community organisation that advocates advancing prospects and wellbeing of women entangled in the criminal justice system and at risk girls of beaconing involved in the same system. They also run an evidence-based, strength-based and trauma informed Mentoring Programs for women and girls, provide intense case management and individual and systemic advocacy. Through their Healing from Within (HFW) Program they take a creative diversionary approach aimed towards creating a supportive and engaging environment for young females (14-25) from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or who are entangled in the criminal justice system or at risk of becoming involved in the same system. Rather than enabling a cycle of reoffending or disadvantage, focus is placed upon intervention and prevention. | See here for Women’s Justice Network’s contact details. | 3, 4, 5, 6 | ✔ | |
| Legal Education and Advice in Prison (LEAP) for Women – Assists women prisoners in realising and enforcing their human rights, in particular their rights in accessing justice. Through LEAP, the community legal centres provide regular, free legal advice clinics and some community legal education services at the three women’s correctional centres in metropolitan Sydney: Dillwynia, Emu Plains, and Silverwater Women’s. | ✔ | ✔ |
Organisations with prisoner and detainee initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) – An Aboriginal community-controlled organisation which provides advice and representation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in criminal law, coronial inquests for deaths in custody, family law and children’s care and protection law. The ALS also contributes to law reform initiatives and advocates for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. | To express your interest in pro bono work, please email community@alsnswact.org.au. | 1, 2, 7 8 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Legal Aid NSW – Runs the Prisoners Legal Service (PLS) A state wide specialist service of Legal Aid. The PLS provides advice, minor assistance on family law and civil matters, and representation to prisoners in NSW gaols. They participate in workshops at gaols and visit or video link conference most gaols around NSW on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. | To find out about the duty solicitor scheme, see here | 1, 2 | ✔ | |
| Women’s Legal Service NSW – Along with the Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre and Western Sydney Community Legal Centre, provides civil and family law advice to women in custody and particularly Aboriginal women, through a program called the Legal Education and Advice in Prison (LEAP) for women. The LEAP initiative operates in three Sydney correctional centres for women: Silverwater Women’s, Dillwynia and Emu Plains. They provide free legal advice clinics and community legal education services at each location once a month. | See here for volunteering opportunities. | 5 | ✔ |
Referral organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice Connect – Connects individuals and not-for-profit organisations (including Indigenous people and organisations who work with this population and who need legal assistance) with pro bono providers. Also works to change unfair laws through advocacy and national campaigns. | See here for law firms wanting to become a member. See here for individuals who want to volunteer. | 5 | ✔ | ✔ |
Campaigns
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law and Justice Foundation – An independent body that aims through research to contribute to the development of a fair and equitable justice system, address the legal needs of the community and improve access to justice for disadvantaged people. The body does a lot of research on prisons and prison reform. | See here. | 3, 7, 8 | ✔ |
Northern Territory (NT)
Organisations for prisoners and detainees
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) – Largest provider of legal services in the Northern Territory, providing legal aid and justice agency services to Aboriginal people including in remote locations. NAAJA regularly makes law and policy reform submissions on justice and related issues affecting Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. It also runs a Throughcare Program that aims to reduce repeat offending by addressing the ‘throughcare’ needs of adult prisoners and youth detainees and a Kunga Stopping Violence Program, which seeks to help women break cycles of violence in their lives and to keep them out of prison. | For pro bono opportunities in South Australia, please contact JusticeNet SA. | 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 | ✔ | ✔ |
Referral organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JusticeNet SA – Provides free legal help and a pro bono referral service to individuals and charitable organisations in South Australia (and the Northern Territory via its Federal Courts Self-Representation Service). | See here for how to become a member. See here for opportunities for student and graduate volunteers and retired and career-break lawyers. Student and graduate volunteers can expect to handle enquiries from the public, review applications for pro bono assistance across the spectrum of civil law, research legal issues, draft advice and undertake fundamental legal administrative and file management tasks. Retired and career-break lawyers can: • conduct telephone or face-to-face client interviews and assessing applications for pro bono assistance for complex matters; • discrete project work on law reform/policy issues of relevance to JusticeNet; and • participate in the delivery of low cost legal training to not-for-profit organisations. | 5 | ✔ |
Queensland (QLD)
Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In Queensland, please contact LawRight.
Organisations for prisoners and detainees
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHINE for Kids – Provides support services for children, young people and families with relatives in the criminal justice system. They run Child and Family Centres, a Prison Invisits Program, case management and referrals to their Early Intervention Placement Prevention program. They also engage in research and advocacy to improve community awareness and knowledge of recidivism and issues that affect children and families dealing with incarceration. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 6 | ✔ | |
| Prisoners Legal Service (PLS) – A not-for-profit independent community legal centre that engages in legal education activities and the provision of free legal advice and representation for prisoners in Queensland. PLS provides free legal assistance to prisoners with parole applications, prison law matters and financial counselling but do not assist with criminal law matters. A volunteer run Community Advice Line service operates for families of prisoners to receive free legal advice and information. They also advocate to government for improvements to prison policies that enhance rehabilitation and reduce recidivism. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sisters Inside – Advocates for the collective human rights of women and girls in prison and provides services to address their needs. They run a number of programs directed at women residing in Queensland prisons including the Sexual Assault, Anti-Violence, Supreme Court Bail Support and Parole Support Programs. Outside prison, they also run Health Support, Next Step Home, Decarceration, and Gatton Re-Entry Programs. A number of inside and outside prison services for youth in prison are also run by the organisation. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1, 4, 5, 7 | ✔ | ✔ |
Organisations with prisoner and detainee initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caxton Legal Centre – Runs a Bail Support Program for men on remand at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, Brisbane Correctional Centre and Woodford Correctional Centre to help them with bail applications, case planning and access to support services. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Women’s Legal Service Qld – Provides free assistance with family law, child protection and domestic violence matters to women at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre and the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Youth Advocacy Centre – Provides Bail and Order Support and Youth Court Assistance to provide young people with legal help, referrals and support services for those at risk of breaching their bail or youth justice orders. The Centre is also engages in submissions to government on matters relating to youth justice, recidivism and imprisonment. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 3, 7, 8 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services – Provide legal support, representation in court and advice to Aboriginal people in prison. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1, 2 | ✔ | ✔ |
Referral organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LawRight – Operates a civil law referral service and direct legal services for disadvantaged client groups, and undertakes law reform, policy work and legal education in Queensland. Operates a Health Justice Partnership which has helped Indigenous clients with complex legal issues. | See here for information on how to become a member. See here for students who want to volunteer, either individually or through university organised volunteer programs and internships at student clinics. See here for In-House and Government legal units who want to participate in pro bono work. See here for retired and career break practitioners who wish to volunteer. | 5 | ✔ | ✔ |
South Australia (SA)
Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In South Australia, please contact JusticeNet SA.
Organisations with prisoner and detainee initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement – An independent Aboriginal Community Controlled organisation that provides legal services to Aboriginal people in the prison systems. | For pro bono opportunities in South Australia, please contact JusticeNet SA. | 1 | ✔ | ✔ |
Referral organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JusticeNet SA – Provides free legal help and a pro bono referral service to individuals and charitable organisations in South Australia (and the Northern Territory via its Federal Courts Self-Representation Service). | See here for how to become a member. See here for opportunities for student and graduate volunteers and retired and career-break lawyers. Student and graduate volunteers can expect to handle enquiries from the public, review applications for pro bono assistance across the spectrum of civil law, research legal issues, draft advice and undertake fundamental legal administrative and file management tasks. Retired and career-break lawyers can: • conduct telephone or face-to-face client interviews and assessing applications for pro bono assistance for complex matters; • discrete project work on law reform/policy issues of relevance to JusticeNet; and • participate in the delivery of low cost legal training to not-for-profit organisations. | 1, 5 | ✔ | ✔ |
Tasmania (TAS)
Organisations with prisoner and detainee initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart Community Legal Service – Provides legal advice, information, referral and limited representation to individuals in the criminal justice and prison system. | See here | 1, 2 | ✔ | ✔ |
Victoria (VIC)
Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In Victoria, please contact Justice Connect.
Organisations for prisoners and detainees
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHINE for Kids – Provides support services for children, young people and families with relatives in the criminal justice system. They run Child and Family Centres, a Prison In visits Program, case management and referrals to their Early Intervention Placement Prevention program. They also engage in research and advocacy to improve community awareness and knowledge of recidivism and issues that affect children and families dealing with incarceration. | See here | 6 | ✔ | |
| Victoria Legal Aid – Runs the Prisoner Legal Help phone service to provide accessible legal support to people in Victorian prisons. | To find out more about duty lawyer services, see here . | 1, 2 | ✔ | |
| Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO) – Victoria’s sole specialist criminal justice reintegration service. Advocates for systemic change towards a fairer justice system particularly with regard to reforming bail laws, better treatment and support of people in prison and post-prison support. | Volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, including students, are valued members of the team, see here | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | ✔ | |
| Law and Advocacy Centre for Women – provide legal support, advice and representation for women in prison and in the criminal justice system. | See here | 1, 2 | ✔ |
Organisations with prisoner and detainee initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitzory Legal Service – Their Women’s Integrated Legal and Outreach Support Service provides skilled and women-specific legal representation integrated with assertive outreach support to assist women address the interrelated and gendered drivers of their criminalisation. The Fitzory Legal Service also runs a Drug Outreach Lawyer Program which assist individuals with legal problems related to alcohol and drug use. | See here for individual volunteer opportunities. | 1, 5 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Mental Health Legal Centre – Their Inside Access initiative provides civil legal and other support services for people with cognitive impairment and mental health issues in correctional facilities in Victoria. The service also aims to ease the transition into the community on release. | The Mental Health Legal Centre relies on volunteer lawyers and students – see here | 1, 3 | ✔ | |
| Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) – Addresses over representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the criminal justice system. Engages in direct client services, community education, research and advocacy around law reform and policy development. The Specialist Legal and Litigation team advocates for improved policing and corrections practices | See here – VALS seeks people from a range of life experiences, skills and education to volunteer with us. VALS can offer volunteers experience in office administration, community development, community legal education, policy, law reform, field officer and legal services. | 1, 3, 8 | ✔ | ✔ |
Referral organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice Connect – Connects individuals and not-for-profit organisations (including Indigenous people and organisations who work with this population and who need legal assistance) with pro bono providers. Also works to change unfair laws through advocacy and national campaigns. Justice Connect also has a Closing the Revolving Door Prison Project which supports people in prison to maintain housing and resolve debts. | See here for law firms wanting to become a member. See here for individuals who want to volunteer. | 5 | ✔ | ✔ |
Western Australia (WA)
Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In Western Australia, please contact Law Access.
Referral organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Access – Coordinates the giving of pro bono legal assistance by the Western Australian legal profession to not-for-profits and individuals. | See here – Opportunities are available to lawyers who register on the Law Access lawyer database. The database will send you information about your areas of interest. Law Access also welcomes secondees from private firms who second lawyers on a part-time basis to assist Law Access with triage and assessment of applications. | 5 | ✔ | ✔ |
Campaigns
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Reinvestment WA – An Aboriginal led coalition of 25 non profit organisations in WA seeking to reduce over representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system. | To join the movement, see here. | 3, 8 | ✔ |
Please note the Centre undertook the research to identify which priorities have been mapped to individual organisations. Not all organisations have confirmed yet whether the identified priorities are accurately mapped.
[i] The Justice Project Final Report published by the Law Council of Australia (Aug 2018) can be found here.