About Us

PARC is a prison abolitionist group committed to exposing and challenging the institutionalized racism, sexism, able-ism, heterosexism, and classism of the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC). PARC believes in building strategies and tactics that build safety in oppressed communities without reliance on the police or the PIC. We produce a directory that is free to prisoners upon request, and seek to work in solidarity with prisoners, formerly incarcerated people, their friends and families. We also work with teachers and activists on prison issues. This work includes building action networks and materials that expose human rights violations.

Recent Alerts

  • IS IT SAFE?

    The Prison University Project presents


    IS IT SAFE?
    Essays and Photographs of Students at San Quentin


    An Exhibition at Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate National Recreation Area


    June 1, 2008-October 22, 2008


    The Band Practice Room, Main Cellhouse


    Essays by Students in the San Quentin College Program;Photographs by Heather Rowley; Curated by Jennifer Scaife



    to purchase tickets, go to www.alcatrazcruises.com
    or call Alcatraz Cruises (415) 981-7625


  • California voters; VOTE NO on prop 9

    CALIFORNIA VOTERS: read prop 9 carefully. It speaks to restricting any kind of early release for prisoners, as an amendment to the constitution. THIS LAW IS UNNECESSARY AND DANGEROUS!
    not to mention inconceivably expensive!!!

  • Hanged man attempted suicide or prison scandal??

    JUST SENT TO US FROM A MEMBER OF THIS SITE: Man in segregated unit attempts suicide; McNeil Island Corrections Center is covering up the fact that this is a direct result of Prison abuse and scandal not an attempted suicide.

more

Prisoner Support Directory

Prisoner Support Directory 2008

Updated March 2008

Please print this directory and use it to assist prisoners in your community.

We correspond with and mail resource packets to prisoners, their friends and family members. We are the first point of contact for people to connect with prisoners' rights organizations, community organizations, prison literature and arts projects, family and visiting resources, health care and legal resources, parole and pre-release resources, and the prison abolition movement.

If you are interested in the Prisoner Support Project, call us at (510) 893-4648, or come to The Long Haul (3124 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA) every Wednesday night from 6-9 pm for Prisoner Support Night.

TOXIC SWEATSHOPS

Toxic Sweatshops

PARC is proud to release a new report, "Toxic Sweatshops: How UNICOR Prison Recycling Harms Workers, Communities, the Environment, and the Recycling Industry." For the first time, prisoners speak out on deplorable health and safety conditions within electronics recycling factories run by UNICOR. UNICOR, also known as Federal Prison Industries, is a government-owned corporation operated under the Department of Justice that uses captive prison labor in a range of industries, including the dismantling of electronics. Leroy Smith, a former safety manager at Atwater Prison, blew the whistle on UNICOR's facility there and was named "Public Servant of the Year" by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in September 2006. Download the report here.