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 2019 Resource Guide.
| Resource | Category |
|---|---|
|
Antioch College Books to Prisoners Project Antioch College Books to Prisoners Project is committed to developing discourse and action related to incarceration and the criminal “justice” system. They provide free books and zines to incarcerated people Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
|
A Jailhouse Lawyer's Manual A Jailhouse Lawyer's Manual (11th Ed, 2017, 1288 pages, $30) is a handbook of legal rights and procedures designed to inform prisoners of their rights and how use to judicial process to secure these rights on both the federal and state level, with an emphasis on New York State law. It also has published state supplements for Louisiana, Texas, and an Immigration & Consular Access Supplement (102 pages) containing information about the immigration law consequences of criminal convictions for people who are not U.S. Citizens. For incarcerated persons, the Eleventh Edition of the main JLM is $30; the Louisiana State Supplement is $25; the Texas Supplement is $20; and the Immigration & Consular Access Supplement is $15. For non-prisoners, the main JLM is $140; the Louisiana State Supplement is $100; the Texas Supplement is $70; and the Immigration & Consular Access Supplement is $50. Each chapter of the JLM is also available for free download online. To obtain the order form, send a pre-addressed stamped envelope to the above address. |
PARC Recommended Legal and Educational Prison Books |
|
Abolitionist Law Center The ALC is a public interest law firm inspired by the struggle of political and politicized prisoners, and organized for the purpose of abolishing class and race based mass incarceration in the United States. To accomplish this goal, the ALC engages in litigation on behalf of people whose human rights have been violated in prison, produces educational programs to inform the general public about the evils of mass incarceration, and works to develop a mass movement against the American penal system by building alliances and nurturing solidarity across social divisions. Only accepts very select cases, primarily in Pennsylvania |
Legal Resources |
|
Action Committee for Women in Prison The Action Committee for Women in Prison advocates for the humane and compassionate treatment of all incarcerated women everywhere, and works for the release of all women who are unjustly imprisoned, including individual women prisoners who pose no danger to society. They also strive to reduce the over reliance on incarceration by shifting the focus from punishment to rehabilitation and restorative justice. May not respond to individual letters. |
Women's Organizations and Resources |
|
Adams State University Prison College Program Take courses and earn a degree through print-based correspondence. Print-based course offered as part of the paralegal I & II, and advanced paralegal certificate programs have a tuition rate of $645, and are offered in collaboration with the Center of Legal Studies. All other print-based courses have a tuition-rate of $220/ credit hour or $660 per 3 credit course. offers Associates and Bachelor degrees. Write for course catelog and application information. Serves people nationally. |
Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses |
|
Adopt An Inmate Nonprofit volunteer organization that connects outside volunteers with prisoners seeking mentors, support and friendship. (They are not a dating service). Their website is a comprehensive source of tools and resources to advocate for inmates. They welcome stories, poems, artwork, and book reviews by inmates and their advocates for publication on their website (indicate submission type on outside of envelope). Send your request for a survey with a short bio (1-3 paragraphs) and incude a pre-addressed, stamped envelope when possible. To follow up on an existing request, indicate "follow-up" on outside of envelope. |
Nationwide Organizations and Resources |
|
AFSC Michigan Criminal Justice Program AFSC's Michigan Criminal Justice Program advocates for over 1,500 Michigan prisoners and their families each year, building an "advocacy network" throughout the state. The program encourages dialogue among prisoners and the general public, and works for humane reform of the criminal justice system and for the rights of prisoners. Michigan prisoners may contact the program at 734-761-9796. Serves those incarcerated in Michigan only. |
Regional Advocacy Organizations, Michigan |
|
AFSC Prison Watch Project Publishes Survivors Manual: Surviving in Solitary, by Bonnie Kerness (2012, 94 pages), free to prisoners and $3 for all others. The book is a powerful collection of voices from solitary, as people currently or formerly held in isolation vividly describe their conditions and their daily lives. The collection also includes artwork and poetry. Also available is a free 6-page brochure entitled LGBTQ+ Prisoner Resource Guide (2017). Serves people nationwide. |
Nationwide Organizations and Resources |
|
Aid to Inmate Mothers Provides services to Alabama’s incarcerated women with emphasis on enhancing personal growth and strengthening the bonds between inmate mothers and their children. Serves women in Alabama only. |
Women's Organizations and Resources |
|
AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania Nonprofit public-interest law firm providing free legal assistance to people living with HIV and AIDS, including PA prisoners. English and Spanish spoken. Only serves prisoners if incarcerated in Pennsylvania. |
Legal Resources, Health Care Resources, HIV Resources |