Legal Services for People in Prison and Jail

These organizations provide legal assistance to people in prison. Each listing has been confirmed by the relevant organization within the last year.

Alabama

Equal Justice Initiative 122 Commerce Street Montgomery, AL 36104 http://www.
eji.org/ (334) 269-1806 fax (334) 269-1803 phone
Focus area/description: EJI
works with communities that have been marginalized by poverty and discouraged by
unequal treatment. EJI litigates on behalf of condemned prisoners, juvenile offenders,
people wrongly convicted or charged with violent crimes, poor people denied effective
representation, and others whose trials are marked by racial bias or prosecutorial
misconduct. (Confirmed: Jun. 23, 2014)

Arizona

Middle Ground Prison Reform 139 East Encanto Drive Tempe, AZ 85281 http://www.
middlegroundprisonreform.org middlegroundprisonreform@msn.com (480) 966-8116
phone Focus area/description: Middle Ground Prison Reform is involved in advocacy
for Arizona families who have a member in prison or jail. Also offers public education
and training seminars for families coping with imprisonment, litigates for the rights of
prisoners and their supporters, and provides specialized fee-based consulting services
for inmates and their families; includes Clemency Board presentation preparation,
protective custody, medical, visitation, probation supervision and restoration of civil
rights. Middle Ground Prison Reform is not a direct social-service delivery agency.
(Confirmed: Jul. 21, 2014)

California

Prison Law Office General Delivery San Quentin, CA 94964 http://www.prisonlaw.
com Focus area/description: The Prison Law Office provides free legal services to
California state prisoners, and occasionally to California state parolees. Assistance is
generally limited to cases regarding conditions of confinement. The Prison Law Office
also provides self-help and informational materials to prisoners, some of which are
published on their website, including a habeas corpus manual, parolee rights manual,
and personal injury lawsuit packet, as well as material regarding administrative
remedies, divorce, guard brutality, immigration, loss of personal property, plea bargains,
release dates, workers' compensation, and worktime credits. (Confirmed: Jun. 23, 2014)
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Southern CA 1313 West Eighth St.,
#200 Los Angeles, CA 90017 http://www.aclusocal.org (213) 977-9543 (no collect calls
please) Focus area/description: The ACLU of Southern California works to preserve
and guarantee the protections of the Constitution's Bill of Rights. It aims to extend
these freedoms to segments of our population who have traditionally been denied
their rights, including people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered
people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor.
(Confirmed: Jun. 24, 2014)
ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties P.O. Box 87131 San Diego, CA 921387131 http://www.aclusandiego.org/ 619-232-2121 x240 Focus area/description: The
ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties fights for individual rights and fundamental
freedoms for all. We generally file cases that affect the civil rights of large numbers of
people, rather than those involving a dispute between two parties. (Confirmed: Jun. 28,
2014)

Colorado

ACLU of CO 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 350 Denver, CO 80203 http://www.aclu-co.org/
(303) 777-5482 Focus area/description: The ACLU of Colorado's mission is to protect,
defend, and extend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado through
litigation, education, and advocacy. (Confirmed: Jun. 18, 2014)

Connecticut

Inmates' Legal Assistance: A Program of Schulman & Associates 78 Oak Street PO
Box 260237 Hartford, CT 06126 (860) 246-1119 fax(860) 246-1118 phone(800) 3014527 phone Focus area/description: Inmates' Legal Assistance program provides legal
assistance to incarcerated people in Connecticut in civil matters involving terms and
conditions of confinement only. Also helps female inmates with civil matters including
including family matters such as divorce, child support, visitation and custody issues.
(Confirmed: Jul. 15, 2014)

District of Columbia

D.C. Prisoners' Project Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and
Urban Affairs 11 Dupont Circle NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20036 http://www.
washlaw.org/projects/dc-prisoners-rights (202) 319-1010 Fax(202) 319-1000 General
information, no collect calls(202) 775-0323 Prisoner help line, collect calls accepted
Focus area/description: Helps D.C. prisoners and ex-prisoners advocate for humane
treatment, particularly with regard to medical and mental health services, safe
conditions of confinement, access to the courts, and parole grant and parole supervision
issues. (Confirmed: Jun. 20, 2014)

Delaware

ACLU of Delaware 100 W. 10th Street, Suite 603 Wilmington, DE 19801 http://www.
aclu-de.org Focus area/description: The mission of the ACLU of Delaware is to defend
and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the constitutions and laws of the
United States and Delaware guarantee everyone. (Confirmed: Jun. 23, 2014)

Florida

Florida Institutional Legal Services (FILS) 14260 W. Newberry Rd., #412 Newberry,
FL 32669 (352) 375-2494 phone1-888-375-2494 Toll Free
Focus area/description: FILS provides high-quality, aggressive and holistic advocacy
to prisoners, jail inmates, incarcerated juveniles, immigrants held in detention and
individuals in indefinite civil detention or commitment. FILS also provides direct legal
services to formerly incarcerated individuals re-entering into society to help end the
cycle of recidivism through successful re-entry into the community. (Confirmed: Jul.
23, 2014)
Florida Justice Institute (FJI) Attention: Intake 100 SE 2nd St., Suite 3750 Miami, FL
33131-2113 http://www.floridajusticeinstitute.org (305) 358-0910 Fax(305) 358-2081
phone Focus area/description: FJI handles civil rights actions affecting conditions
in Florida's prisons and jails. Legal services provided to inmates also include damages
suits and civil rights cases. No post conviction or criminal cases are accepted. Prisoners
or family should contact this group by visiting the website and clicking "Contact Us."
(Confirmed: Jun. 24, 2014)

Hawaii

Hawaii Office of the Ombudsman 465 S. King Street 4th floor Honolulu, HI 96813 http://
www.ombudsman.hawaii.gov (808) 587-0773 fax(808) 587-0770 phone(808) 587-0774
TTY Focus area/description: Receives, and where deemed appropriate, investigates
complaints from inmates regarding administrative acts of staff of the Department of
Public Safety, State of Hawaii. Does not provide advocacy or legal services. Open from
7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, except for state holidays. (Confirmed: Jun. 18, 2014)

Illinois

Prisoners Rights Research Project University of Illinois College of Law 504 East
Pennsylvania Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 333-4205 Voice Focus area/description:
Prisoners' Rights Research Project is a student run organization at the University of
Illinois College of Law. PRRP can provide legal research on specific questions on Illinois
or federal law. PRRP can also provide print copies of specific legal documents (such as
cases or statutes) from all jurisdictions. (Confirmed: Feb. 14, 2014)
John Howard Association 375 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 529 Chicago, IL 60611 http://
www.thejha.org/ (312) 503-6306 Fax Focus area/description: Advocacy on prison
conditions and prisoners’ rights. The John Howard Association monitors policies,
practices, and conditions of confinement in prisons and jails in Illinois and advocates on
behalf of incarcerated individuals, parolees, and the formerly incarcerated. The Prison
Response Project of JHA cannot furnish legal counsel or provide representation, as this
project does not employ licensed attorneys. JHA can provide incarcerated individuals
with statutes, court decisions, and other information. If it is possible to do so, JHA can
provide forms and rules. JHA can also explain penal policies and practices related to the
state of Illinois. (Confirmed: Jun. 23, 2014)
The MacArthur Justice Center Northwestern University School of Law 375 E. Chicago
Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 http://www.law.northwestern.edu/macarthur/ (312) 503-1271
phone Focus area/description: Impact litigation on criminal justice issues, focused
specifically on Illinois. Individual prisoner cases are rarely accepted. (Confirmed: Jun.
23, 2014)

Indiana

ACLU of IN 1031 E. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 http://www.aclu-in.org/
(317) 635-4059 Focus area/description: The ACLU of Indiana litigates cases involving
the constitutional and religious rights of prisoners, including prison and jail conditions
in Indiana. We do not litigate cases involving post-conviction relief or appeals of
criminal convictions. We do not usually litigate individual damages cases. (Confirmed:
Jun. 30, 2014)

Massachusetts

Prisoners' Legal Services 10 Winthrop Square Floor 3 Boston, MA 02110-1264 http://
plsma.org (617) 451-6383 Fax(617) 482-2773 Main Focus area/description: PLS
provides civil legal services, not criminal defense services, to people in Massachusetts
prisons and jails. The office focuses on four issues: health and mental health care, guardon-prisoner violence, physical conditions of confinement, and segregation and isolation.
PLS has a toll free speed dial number accessible to all state prisoners on the PIN system:
#9004. County prisoners must call collect on (617) 482-4124. Families and friends of
prisoners can also call PLS for free on 1-800-882-1413 toll free from anywhere in the

state. Prisoners who cannot reach us by phone should write to the address above. Regular
call-in hours are 1:00 to 4:00 on Monday afternoons unless you are in segregation, in
which case you can call between 9:00 and 4:00, Monday to Friday. If you are calling from
seg, please state your unit to our receptionist to get through. On weeks when Monday
is a holiday, PLS accepts calls on Tuesday from 1:00 to 4:00. (Confirmed: Jun. 18, 2014)

North Carolina

North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, Inc. PO Box 25397 1110 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, NC 27611 http://www.ncpls.org ncpls@ncpls.org Email(919) 856-2223 Fax(919)
856-2200 Main Focus area/description: Provide legal services to people incarcerated
in North Carolina to ensure that all prisoners are treated humanely. Although NCPLS
cannot provide representation to every prisoner who contacts them, they respond to
every inquiry they receive, and keep track of recurring complaints so they can identify
and concentrate on areas of broad concern. (Confirmed: Dec. 19, 2014)

New Jersey

NJ Office of the Corrections Ombudsman P0 Box 855 Trenton, NJ 08625 http://www.
state.nj.us/correctionsombudsman/ 1-555-555-5555 Inmate only toll free number(609)
633-2596 Main Focus area/description: The Office of the Corrections Ombudsman
provides a mechanism for the continuing resolution of issues, problems or complaints
of state prisoners within New Jersey's Correctional System regarding their living
conditions and treatment. The Corrections Ombudsman investigates complaints where
the inmate has failed to get satisfactory results through available institutional channels.
(Confirmed: Jun. 24, 2014)
ACLU of New Jersey PO Box 32159 Newark, NJ 07102 http://www.aclu-nj.org/ (973)
642-2084 Focus area/description: The ACLU-NJ works to defend liberty throughout
our state. One's civil liberties are protected by the First Amendment and include rights
to equal treatment, fairness, privacy, freedom of speech or religion. The ACLU-NJ is
involved in litigation and advocacy on behalf of individuals, including prisoners.
(Confirmed: Jun. 30, 2014)

South Carolina

Protection & Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. 3710 Landmark Dr, Ste 208
Columbia, SC 29204 http://www.pandasc.org (803) 782-0639 1-866-232-4525 tollfree voice/TDD Focus area/description: Provides legal assistance on conditions and
treatment issues to prisoners with disabilities. Does not do criminal work. (Confirmed:
Jun. 18, 2014)

Texas

Disability Rights Texas 2222 West Braker Lane Austin, TX 78758 http://www.drtx.
org (512) 454-4816 voice/TDD(800) 252-9108 voice/TDD Focus area/description:
Advocacy for disabled people in Texas county jails. (Confirmed: Aug. 4, 2014)

Vermont

Prisoners' Rights Office 6 Baldwin Street, 4th Floor Montpelier, VT 05633-3301 http://
www.defgen.state.vt.us/ (802) 828-3194 phone Focus area/description: This section of
the Vermont Office of the Defender General handles prisoners' rights cases. (Confirmed:
Jun. 30, 2014)
ACLU of Vermont 137 Elm St. Montpelier, VT 05602 http://www.acluvt.org/ (802)
223-6304 Focus area/description: The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont is
dedicated to the defense of individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill
of Rights as well as the Vermont Constitution. The ACLU operates a number of specific
projects, including the AIDS Education Project of the National Prison Project and the
Gay and Lesbian Rights Project of the ACLU. (Confirmed: Jun. 23, 2014)

Washington

ACLU of WA 901 Fifth Avenue, Suite 630 Seattle, WA 98164 https://www.aclu-wa.org
(206) 624-2180 (206) 624-2184 Focus area/description: The mission of the ACLU is to
preserve and protect First Amendment rights, the right to equal protection under the
law, the right to due process, the right to privacy. (Confirmed: Jul. 10, 2014)

Columbia Legal Services, Institutions Project 101 Yesler Way, Suite 300 Seattle,
WA 98104 http://www.columbialegal.org/ (800) 542-0794 (206) 382-3399 collect
Nevada
Focus area/description: The Institutions Project (IP) represents people confined in
ACLU of NV 601 S. Rancho Drive, # B-11 Las Vegas, NV 89106 http://www.aclunv. Washington's jails, prisons, juvenile detention facilities, mental health facilities, and
org (702) 366-1226 Focus area/description: The ACLU of Nevada works to defend facilities for people with developmental disabilities. This work has focused on conditions
and advance the civil liberties, civil rights and other fundamental human rights of all of our clients' confinement, discrimination, sentencing and placement, alternatives to
Nevadans. (Confirmed: Jun. 18, 2014)
institutionalization, and access to courts, as well as issues related to rehabilitation, reentry, and reductions in recidivism. (Confirmed: Jul. 7, 2014)

New York

Prisoners' Legal Services of NY 41 State Street, Suite M112 Albany, NY 12207 http://
www.plsny.org/ (518) 445-6050 fax(518) 445-6053 phone
Focus area/description: Prisoners' Legal Services of New York (PLS) provides free civil
legal services to New York state prisoners. The decision to assist with any particular
case depends on the issue or problem presented, the chance of success, the amount of
time and resource necessary to properly assist, the office's resources, staff availability and
caseload. PLS is also happy to provide self-help and informational materials to prisoners.
Due to the large number of inquiries, PLS cannot accept telephone calls from prisoners
and their families. (Confirmed: Dec. 19, 2014)

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project (PAILP) The Cast Iron Building, Suite 304
South 718 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 http://www.pailp.org alove@pailp.
org Email(215) 925-5337 Fax(570) 523-1104 Lewisburg Office(215) 925-2966 Main/
Philadelphia Office(412) 232-0276 Pittsburgh Office
Focus area/description: The Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project (PAILP) provides
free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income people who are incarcerated or
institutionalized. Intake Process: By phone, M-F, 9am-5pm. PAILP has a staff person
who responds to every inquiry. An assessment of legal merit is made and if appropriate,
information and referrals are provided. (Confirmed: Dec. 19, 2014)

Rhode Island

ACLU of Rhode Island 128 Dorrance Street Suite 220 Providence, RI 02903 http://www.
riaclu.org/ (401) 831-7171 Focus area/description: The mission of the ACLU is to
preserve and protect First Amendment rights, the right to equal protection under the
law, the right to due process, the right to privacy. (Confirmed: Jun. 18, 2014)

National organizations
These organizations offer help to prisoners in any state by providing legal assistance or
inexpensive, high-quality self-help materials. See the individual listings for details.
Equal Justice Initiative 122 Commerce Street Montgomery, AL 36104 http://www.
eji.org/ (334) 269-1806 fax(334) 269-1803 phone Focus area/description: EJI works
with communities that have been marginalized by poverty and discouraged by unequal
treatment. EJI litigates on behalf of condemned prisoners, juvenile offenders, people
wrongly convicted or charged with violent crimes, poor people denied effective
representation, and others whose trials are marked by racial bias or prosecutorial
misconduct. (Confirmed: Jun. 23, 2014)
Prison Law Project - Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook National Lawyers Guild
132 Nassau Street, RM 922 New York, NY 10038 http://www.jailhouselaw.org/ (212) 6792811 fax(212) 679-5100 phone Focus area/description: This Handbook is a resource
for prisoners who wish to file a Section 1983 lawsuit in federal court regarding poor
conditions in prison and/or abuse by prison staff. It also contains limited information
about legal research and the American legal system. The Handbook is available for
free online to anyone at www.jailhouselaw.org, or by mail. Prisoners can write to the
addresses above. (Confirmed: Jun. 18, 2014)
Human Rights Defense Center / Prison Legal News P.O. Box 1151 Lake Worth, FL
33460 http://www.prisonlegalnews.org and www.humanrightsdefensecenter.org (561)
360-2523 phone Focus area/description: The Human Rights Defense Center publishes
a monthly magazine on prisoner rights (for incarcerated people, $30/year; for others
please write or see website), and also sells litigation manuals, law and self-help books.
(Confirmed: Jul. 28, 2014)

This resource list is edited by the Prison Policy Initiative which confirms each listing at least once per year. For longer descriptions of each organization or to submit
other organizations to the list, please visit http://www.prisonpolicy.org/resources/legal/ . Because people in prison cannot access the internet, Prison Legal News is
distributing this resource guide on paper. Prison Legal News P.O. Box 1151 Lake Worth, FL 33460. PLN’s website has all back issues of the magazine and the most
comprehensive database of detention facility news and litigation. www.prisonlegalnews.org. This resource guide was printed on January 20, 2015. If that is more
than a year ago, please see the Prison Policy Initiative website for a newer version before making further copies of this guide.