Resources: Legal Resources
PARC corresponds with and mails a directory of these resources to prisoners, their friends and family members. We are often 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.
Download a PDF copy of the November 2024 Edition here.
Please note recent updates since our last publication:
Compassion Works For All has closed (see listing in Religious Programs)
Missouri Prison Books: Now sending to Kansas, Illinois, and Indiana. Is banned in Missouri, since Sept 23, 2024
The Pathfinder Network: correct phone is 503-892-5396
Providence Books Through Bars c/o Paper Nautilus 19 S Angell Street Providence RI 02906
Women’s Book Project 3501 Aldrich Ave. S, Minneapolis MN 55408
PDX Books Through Bars: ships up to 3 books for free to anyone incarcerated in all states except Wisconsin. General topics/genres only. PO Box 11222; Portland OR, 97211
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Legal Action Center The Legal Action Center (LAC) uses legal and policy strategies to fight discrimination, build health equity, and restore opportunity for people with arrest and conviction records, substance use disorders, and HIV or AIDS. They also help people fight for their right to medication for addiction treatment (MAT) or medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) Primarily serves people in New York state, but sends resources to incarcerated people throughout the US. |
Legal Resources |
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Loyola Law School's Project for the Innocent Dedicated to the exoneration of the wrongfully convicted. If a true claim of innocence is provable, clinic students will help draft a habeas petition. Must have case for factual innocence, have exhausted all their appeals, and are no longer represented by an attorney. Serves California only. Expect delays in the summer. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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Maryland Office of the Public Defender Innocence Project Clinic at the University of Baltimore The MOPD Innocence Project Clinic at the Univ. of Baltimore seeks to identify individuals who have been convicted in Maryland state courts of crimes they did not commit and to provide them with assistance in the investigation of their claims. In appropriate cases, representation will be provided in post-trial litigation efforts to secure exonerations. Accepts cases of actual innocence in Maryland; DNA and non-DNA cases. Serves Maryland only. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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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. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project Free investigative and legal assistance to innocent prisoners convicted in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia who have provable claims of innocence, either by DNA testing or by other newly discovered evidence. The prisoner must not be currently represented by another attorney in his or her criminal case, or have the right to appointed counsel in the case. Write in for questionnaire. D.C., Maryland and Virginia only. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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Midwest Innocence Project Accepts cases of actual innocence in AR, IA, KS, MO, and NE; applicants must have more than 10 years left to serve on their sentence; cannot be currently represented by another attorney except for Iowa applicants; must have exhausted all appeals. Also reviews death penalty cases. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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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 Resources, Innocence Projects |
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National Office of the NLG - Prison Law Project The National Office of the National Lawyers Guild in New York does not provide lawyers or legal assistance; they offer free membership for jailhouse lawyers, which includes the ability to vote on national resultions and to receive the quarterly publication, Guild Notes. Also publishes Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook with Center for Constitutional Rights. See PARC RECOMMENDED BOOKS at the end of this Directory for more info on how to order. If CCR does not respond to your request for the Handbook in 2+ months, then request from the National NLG. There is also an online form available at https://www.jailhouselaw.org/ to request a Handbook.
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Legal Resources |
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New England Innocence Project Accepts cases of actual innocence in CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT in which the prisoner has a claim of factual innocence; no time requirement DNA and non-DNA cases; will consider arson and shaken baby syndrome cases; may consider child abuse cases. Serves New England states, except New York. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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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.
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Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |