Who we are

Prisoner Legal Supports is a not-for-profit organization made up of lawyers, law students and researchers committed to providing free and accessible legal services to people experiencing incarceration and those supporting them.  We are based in Ottawa with services offered across Ontario. We aim to reduce the harms caused by incarceration and criminalization for individuals and their loved ones  while engaging in activism and legal challenges for social change. Our purpose is to support criminalized communities now so that we can build a future that does not rely on incarceration and criminalization in the future.

Legal Services

We provide pro bono legal support to prisoners, prisoners' loved ones and organizations supporting prisoners in the areas of human rights, Charter litigation, internal complaints and grievances and complaints to the Ombudsman. ​
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University of Ottawa Prison Law Practicum

Our practice is operated in partnership with the University of Ottawa Prison Law Practicum. Our lawyers lead the practicum course and work with upper-year law students to support prisoners and their loved ones in navigating the law. 

Donate Now

All donations are used to support legal actions for prisoners, prisoners' loved ones and organizations supporting prisoners. For more information about becoming a sustainer or making a one-time donation, please contact us. 
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Community Partnerships 

We are committed to our partnerships with community organizations supporting criminalized communities. If your organization could benefit from our services, we would love to hear from you. 

Prisons do not disappear social problems, they disappear human beings. Homelessness, unemployment, drug addiction, mental illness, and illiteracy are only a few of the problems that disappear from public view when the human beings contending with them are relegated to cages.

Angela Davis