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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North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence Accepts cases of actual innocence in North Carolina and South Carolina; DNA and non-DNA cases; will consider arson and shaken baby syndrome cases, and may consider child abuse cases; typically limited to those in custody or with post-conviction restrictions, but exceptions are made. Serves NC and SC only. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission The North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission was created by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2006 and is charged with providing an independent and balanced truth-seeking forum for credible post-conviction claims of innocence in North Carolina. The Commission is separate from the appeals process. A person exonerated by the Commission process is declared innocent and cannot be re-tried again. Serves North Carolina felonies only. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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Northern California Innocence Project Accepts actual innocence cases for people convicted in a Northern or Central California county; DNA and non-DNA cases; no minimum sentence requirements. The applicant must have been convicted in state court of a serious felony. Will consider cases involving faulty forensic science, police or prosecutor misconduct, ineffective assistance of counsel, eyewitness misidentification, false testimony and false confessions. Northern and Central California only. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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Ohio Innocence Project Accepts cases of actual innocence in Ohio; DNA and non-DNA cases; no sentence requirements. Only serves prisoners in Ohio. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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Ohio Public Defender Wrongful Conviction Project Cases accepted for review: Cases of actual innocence in Ohio; non-DNA cases only; arson cases; Shaken Baby Syndrome cases; child sex abuse cases; all other claims of actual innocence. Serves Ohio only.
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Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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Oklahoma Innocence Project The Oklahoma Innocence Project accepts cases of actual innocence in Oklahoma; DNA and non-DNA cases; no sentence requirements. Must have credible evidence of factual innocence and be convicted in Oklahoma state court (no federal convictions). Serves Oklahoma only. |
Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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Pennsylvania Innocence Project The Pennsylvania Innocence Project only takes on cases from factually innocent individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and exhausted their appeals. The Project takes on cases with or without DNA evidence, and will consider arson, shaken baby syndrome, and child abuse cases. Only serves people convicted in Pennsylvania.
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Legal Resources, Innocence Projects |
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Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project The Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project (PILP) provides free civil legal assistance to people who are incarcerated or detained in Pennsylvania on their constitutional and civil rights claims. PILP’s intake process is primarily by letter or legal mail. Intake may also be conducted by phone, M-F 9am-5pm; via email; or online at https://pilp.org/contact (click “Submit Request for Online Assistance”). |
Legal Resources |
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People’s Law Office Fights for justice for people in Illinois who have been tortured or physically abused, wrongfully arrested or convicted, unfairly sentenced to death, or targeted as a result of their political beliefs or organizing efforts on behalf of movements struggling for justice and liberation. Serves Illinois only. |
Legal Resources |
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Prison Law Office The Prison Law Office ("PLO") litigates and monitors California and Arizona class action lawsuits regarding medical and mental health services, lack of reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, use of excessive force, unsanitary living conditions, prolonged extreme solitary confinement, and due process violations. Also has an extensive set of legal informational handouts about various California prison- and county jail-related issues. Note: PLO engages in class action lawsuits and does not represent people in individual cases. People can write with specific questions and they will send a packet if they have one that applies. Se habla Español. Serves Californians and Arizonans only. Encouraged to write or email rather than call. |
Legal Resources |