The Watch Committee formed in June 1987 following concerns and voices about the rate of Aboriginal deaths in custody, the circumstances about the deaths and the vague explanations offered by police and prison officials.

Our specialist areas of law include tenancy, credit & debt, discrimination, employment, social security and domestic violence. We are also strong advocates for criminal law reform, in particular drug law reform, public space offences, rights of the accused, prisoner's rights, domestic violence and victims compensation. An independent Management Committee comprised of community representatives, legal practitioners and paid and unpaid staff oversees the work of the Centre.

The Council for Civil Liberties was established in October 1963 and has members in all states of Australia. Its aims are to take up and investigate matters involving freedom of information, publication, assembly and organisation, as well as police conduct, censorship, immigration and naturalisation, and arbitrary discrimination and deprivation of liberty of all kinds. the NSW branch of CCL includes a Prison Subcommittee.

We believe that the only effective means of achieving change in the jails can come from a movement organised and run by prisoners and ex-prisoners. We are dedicated to easing the intolerable and brutal burden of prisoners and the eventual abolition of the insitution itself.

P.A.G. was formed in 1973 by ex-prisoners to agitate for change in the New South Wales prison system. Their passion and commitment continues to motivate the formation of numerous groups who work for criminal justice and prison reform, most notably Justice Action.