Resources: Regional Advocacy Organizations

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 2023 edition linked here.

Resource Category
Project Rebound, San Diego State

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and
graduate with a degree(s) from San Diego State University. Project Rebound offers academic guidance, peer mentoring and tutoring, and referrals to academic and non-academic resources. Project Rebound serves formerly incarcerated individuals from all states.


    

 


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, San Francisco State

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from SF State University. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Return

Project Return equips former offenders with the education, coaching, and support services necessary to gain employment and begin a new life. Project Return conducts pre-release programs in correctional facilities to prepare inmates for their release dates. Serves Tennessee only.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Tennessee
Promise of Justice Initiative

Legal services nonprofit that advocates for humane, fair, and equal treatment of individuals in jails and prison. Publishes a resource guide that includes additional information on organizations to contact for legal representation and advice, as well as other resources that might be helpful. Has a prison conditions project fighting to end the death penalty and solitary confinement in Louisiana prisons. Has litigated issues including medical care at Angola, inhumane heat, and conditions in Baton Rouge Parish prison, and juveniles serving LWOP sentences. Serves people in Louisiana only.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Louisiana
Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos

The Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos Prison Project is dedicated to providing cultural and spiritual education, support, and hope to incarcerated individuals. The Project advocates for prison policy reform and programs that reduce recidivism, support re-entry, and reunify families. Our educational materials are sent nationally in responding to mail requests. Serves Californians only.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Stanford Justice Advocacy Project

Represents people serving unjust three strikes sentences for minor crimes, assists released prisoners successfully reentering their communities, and advocates for fairer and more effective criminal justice policies in California and across the country.  Only serves Californians; expect delays; will not respond if they cannot serve you.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Texas Civil Rights Project

Works on reform projects including ending solitary confinement in Texas, challenging debtor's prison practices, ending tortuous heat conditions, and improving mental health. Does not provide individual representation. Serves Texans only.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Texas
The Law Library of Louisiana

The Law Library of Louisiana offers a robust free guide with information and resources on common legal issues faced by prisoners, former prisoners and their families. The guide covers post- conviction remedies, civil rights violations in prison, parole, family law issues, re-entry assistance and resources on the collateral consequences of conviction. Serves Louisiana only.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Louisiana
The Michigan Lifers Association

Support for Michigan lifers led by Willis X. Harris, found innocent after serving over 23 years in the Michigan prison system. Write for information about programming and support for lifers. Note there is no online presence, but they are easily reached by phone or mail. Serves people in MI specifically but also all across the US and Canada.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Michigan
The Pathfinder Network

Formerly Pathfinders of Oregon. Has several successful programs in prisons and the community. Classes inside prison including Parenting Inside Out and the Healing Opportunities, Promoting Empowerment (HOPE) program. Outside, Pathfinders Network provides reentry support, including peer mentoring and parenting classes, at the Center for Family Success. Serves people in Oregon only.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Oregon
The Southern Center for Human Rights

SCHR is engaged in litigation, public education, advocacy, and works with other organizations and individuals to protect the civil and human rights of people prosecuted in the criminal courts – particularly those facing the death penalty – and confined in the prisons and jails of the South. They offer free guidebooks with tools on how to advocate for incarcerated loved ones and on re-entry services. Serves Georgia and the deep south.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Georgia
Tulane University Law Library

Offers photocopies of case-law citations, law review articles, criminal procedures, etc. to prisoners incarcerated in Louisiana jails & parish or state prisons only.  Requests should have specific case cites, docket numbers or article titles, and are limited to one per month and a maximum of 50 pages. Only serves people in LA state prisons or jails; no federal prisoner requests.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Louisiana
UnCommon Law

UnCommon Law supports people navigating California's discretionary parole process through trauma-informed legal representation, mental health counseling, legislative and policy advocacy, and in-prison programming led by those who have been through the process themselves.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Utah Prisoner Advocate Network

Utah Prisoner Advocate Network (UPAN) offers support to incarcerated individuals as well as friends and families through providing education and information about conditions of confinement including housing and medical. UPAN does not provide legal support - do not send legal documents. It also publishes a monthly newsletter. The best way to receive the newsletter is to ask family or friends to get on the email list and then print and send you the newsletter directly. If you do not have any family or friends to support, contact UPAN directly. Serves Utah only.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Utah

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