Reprieve Australia, the sister organisation of the UK-based charity, Reprieve (UK), and the US charity, Reprieve (US) was established in Melbourne, Australia in May 2001.

Reprieve UK was established by leading human rights activist Clive Stafford Smith in 1999.  Reprieve Netherlands, established in 2006, is the most recent member to join the group. 

Around the world Reprieve's fundamental purpose is twofold – to advocate against the use of the death penalty and  to provide effective legal representation and humanitarian assistance to people facing the death penalty at the hands of the state.

It is a not for profit organization run and supported by people who oppose the death penalty.  It is staffed entirely by volunteers and receives funds for its work from membership subscriptions and donations.

While Reprieve Australia acknowledges a great deal of support from the Australian legal community, it is not a society of lawyers.  Its membership represents a wide cross-section of the community.

Reprieve Australia's work includes conducting internship and volunteer programs at home and abroad, producing regular newsletters, supporting and conducting awareness raising events in respect of the death penalty and liaising with other organisations in the fight against the death penalty.

Reprieve Australia has sent dozens of interns to represent impoverished people on death row, mostly in the southern US states of Louisiana and Texas.

Media liaison – Brigid Delaney – 0421 955 972 – media@reprieve.org.au