Bard Prison Initiative

The Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) enrolls students at seven men's and women's correctional facilities in New York: Albion, Coxsackie, Eastern, Fishkill, Green Haven, Taconic and Woodbourne. Students enroll full-time and take in-person courses across a range of academic disciplines, earning Bard College associate and bachelor's degrees. To apply, one must be at one of the seven prisons where BPI operates and have a high school diploma or its equivalent. The application process includes a writing session and interview; candidates who are not offered admission may apply again. BPI students and alumni are also eligible for BPI services in reentry and alumni engagement, which begin while students are incarcerated and continue after they return home.

New Mexico Innocence and Justice Project

NMIJP’s primary mission is to provide assistance and referrals to people wrongfully convicted in our state. NMIJP is an independent organization, and has no affiliation with any other project in New Mexico. They will be opening to review and refer cases soon. In the meantime, please direct questions or concerns to info@nmijp.org. Serves New Mexico only. 

 

 

The Last Resort Exoneration Project

Free investigative and legal services to the convicted innocent of New Jersey who have substantial claims of factual innocence and are willing to cooperate with requests aimed at discovering the truth. Serves New Jersey only.

Rocky Mountain Innocence Center

Accepts cases of actual innocence in Nevada, Wyoming or Utah; DNA and non-DNA cases; seven or more years left to serve on sentence; must be completely innocent; significant new evidence must be available to prove the prisoner’s innocence.

Montana Innocence Project

Accepts DNA and non-DNA cases. Prisoners must have been convicted of a felony crime in a Montana state or federal court; must have completed trial, sentencing and direct appeals; must not currently be represented by an attorney. Priority is given to cases where convincing and corroborating evidence can establish actual innocence. Serves Montana only.

Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners

Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP) provides civil representation to indigent persons incarcerated in Minnesota. Students at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law represent clients from interviews through any trial. Cases include domestic relations, imprisonment-related matters (institutional grievances, parole, and detainers), and the full range of other civil problems including debtor-creditor, wills, contracts, torts, and civil rights issues. LAMP does not handle appeals for inmates to contest their convictions. Serves people in Minnesota only.

Cooley Law School Innocence Project

Accepts cases of actual innocence in Michigan; DNA cases only; must be in custody; no time requirement. Students assist assigned attorneys with reviewing case files, screening applications, investigating facts, conducting interviews, and analyzing cases. Serves Michigan only.

Prison Creative Arts Project

Brings those impacted by the justice system together with the University of Michigan community for artistic collaboration, mutual learning, and growth. Its programs include weekly creative arts workshops, exhibitions, a literary journal, and a community of formerly incarcerated creators. Write to PCAP to join the newsletter mailing list and receive its calls for art and writing. Michigan only.

 

Michigan Innocence Clinic

Accepts cases of actual innocence in Michigan; non-DNA cases only; no sentence requirements. Only accepts cases after a person has exhausted their direct appeals. The prisoner must not be currently represented by counsel and the crime and conviction must have occurred in Michigan.

Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts

Prisoners’ Legal Services provides legal representation and administrative advocacy in civil (non-criminal) matters related to prisoners’ treatment in Massachusetts prisons and jails, and upon release on parole. Serves current or former Mass prisoners in issues including inadequate medical or mental health care, assaults or violence by staff, unsafe or inhumane conditions in Mass jails or prisons, arbitrary use of isolation, and/or unfair denial or revocation of parole. Accepts letters to address listed and calls during intake hours on Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Non-English speakers seeking assistance may also contact PLS - they will provide interpretation services. Serves people in Mass. only.

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