Resources

Non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change and dedicated to advancing and protecting constitutional rights. CCR recently litigated the Ashker v Governor challenge to solitary confinement in CA. Publishes Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook with National Lawyers Guild. See PARC RECOMMENDED BOOKS at the end of this Directory for more info.  Last updated in 2021.  To receive a paperbound copy, mail a request to the above address and wait at least 2 months for return.  Download chapter, or get an order form to request a Handbook at https://www.jailhouselaw.org/

A Jailhouse Lawyer's Manual (12th Ed, 2020, 1520 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 the following supplements: 1) on Louisiana state law; 2) on Texas state law; and 3) on Immigration and consular access, containing information about the immigration law consequences of criminal convictions for people who are not U.S. Citizens. Individual chapters are also available for download.

This is a student-run, volunteer organization; they cannot provide legal advice or respond to individual inquiries. Expect delays in delivery.

For incarcerated persons, the 12th Edition of the main JLM is $30; supplements range from $15-25 by state. Make checks payable to "Columbia Jailhouse Lawyers' Manual." For non-prisoners, the main JLM is $140 and supplements range from $50-100. 

Founded in 1844, the Correctional Association of New York (CA) is an independent non-profit organization that advocates for a more humane and effective criminal justice system and a more just and equitable society. CA has several working projects, including the Coalition for Women Prisoners, the Drop the Rock Coalition (downsizing the prison system), Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, and the Juvenile Justice Coalition. Only serves individuals in New York. 

Mission is to support incarcerated mothers and their children. Provides resources and services outside and inside New York state prisons only. Also provides services in Spanish (también ofrece servicios en español). Only provides services to New York state prisons.

The Innocence Project works to exonerate the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms to the criminal justice system to prevent future injustices. They accept only cases in which DNA testing can prove innocence. Write to request intake form. Accepts applications nationwide EXCEPT from AZ, CA, IL, MI, OH, WI or Puerto Rico.

The Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook: How to Bring a Federal Lawsuit to Challenge Violations of Your Rights in Prison

Published jointly by the National Lawyers Guild and the Center for Constitutional Rights, explains how a prisoner can start a lawsuit in federal court to fight against mistreatment and bad conditions in prison. This handbook is a free resource for people in prison who wish to file a federal lawsuit addressing poor conditions in prison or abuse by prison staff. It also contains limited general information about the United States legal system. Has excellent explanation of the Prison Litigation Reform Act. Essential resource for any jailhouse lawyer.  Last updated in 2021.  To receive a paperbound copy, mail a request to the above address and wait at least 2 months for return.  Requests are bundled and sent only several times per year.  If no response after 3 months, write to the National NLG Prison Law Project for a copy: P.O. Box 1266; New York, NY, 10009.

The Handbook is also available downloaded from their website (http://jailhouselaw.org/) Request an outside source to print and mail it to you. List of chapter headings: (1) How to Use the JLH; (2) Overview of Types of Lawsuits and the Prison Litigation Reform Act' 3) Your Rights in Prison; (4) Who to Sue and What to Ask for; (5) How to Start Your Lawsuit; (6) What Happens After You File Your Suit; (7) The Legal System and Legal Research; and Appendices A-N.

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. 

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.

The PEN prison writing program provide hundreds of imprisoned writers across the country with free writing resources, skilled mentors, and audiences for their work. Its program supports free expression, and encourages the use of the written word as a legitimate form of power.  In additional to mentoring, PEN publishes a national list of prison-based creative writing programs, sponsors an annual writing contest, publishes the free book Handbook for Writers In Prison, conducts workshops, and seeks to promote prisoners' work publicly through literary publications and readings. Serves writers nationally.

PLSNY provides free legal services to New York State prisoners. Also publishes Pro Se newsletter six times per year for prisoners in New York State prisons, providing information and analysis on recent developments in prison law. To subscribe, send a subscription request with prisoner's name, DIN number, and facility to: Pro Se, 114 Prospect Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. Past issues of Pro Se from 2002-2016 are downloadable from their website. Write for the office near you. We serve NY state prisons only; not county jails or federal prisoners.

Accepts cases of wrongful conviction and actual innocence for felony convictions that were previously assigned to OAD on appeal. Cases are randomly assigned by the court, and consist of indigent defendants who were convicted in the Bronx and Manhattan. OAD’s Reinvestigation Project works on DNA and non-DNA wrongful conviction cases and does not have any sentence requirements. At this time, the Reinvestigation Project is not funded to accept cases that have not been assigned to the office on direct appeal.

Accepts cases of actual innocence in New York; DNA and non-DNA cases (specializes in non-DNA); no sentence requirements.

Osborne offers a wide range of direct services to justice system-involved people and their children and families. Our programs and services are evidence- and experience-based and designed to reduce crime and reliance on incarceration, heal the damage and trauma of crime and incarceration, and enhance opportunity for those affected by crime and incarceration. Offers services to incarcerated parents as well. Write for list of programs and services. The Osborne Association has three locations: in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Newburgh. Only Servces People in New York.