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: Jul. 31,
2012)

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. 24, 2012)

ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of AZ
P.O. Box 17148 Phoenix, AZ 85011-0148 http://www.acluaz.org/ (602) 650-1854 Phone
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: Aug. 3, 2012)

California
UC Davis School of Law â!“ Prison Law Clinic
PO Box 4745 Davis, CA 95616 http://www.law.ucdavis.edu/clinics/prison_law.shtml (530) 752-6943
phone
Focus area/description: For inmates of CA State Prisons: lifer parole suitability, prison conditions,
parole revocation, religious freedom, visitation. (Confirmed: Aug. 13, 2012)

ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Southern CA
1313 West Eighth St., #200 Los Angeles, CA 90017 http://www.aclu-sc.org (213) 977-9500
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: Aug. 6, 2012)

ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of San Diego & Imperial Counties
P.O. Box 87131 San Diego, CA 92138-7131 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: Jul. 31, 2012)

14260 W. Newberry Rd., #412 Newberry, FL 32669 (352) 375-2494 phone
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. 31, 2012)

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: Jul. 31, 2012)

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. Students will prepare an objective memorandum under the
general supervision of a licensed attorney on specific questions of Illinois or federal law. PRRP
members are not licensed attorneys, and cannot offer legal advice. (Confirmed: Oct. 1, 2012)

John Howard Association
375 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 529 Chicago, IL 60611 http://www.thejha.org/ (312) 503-6300 (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.
(Confirmed: Jul. 31, 2012)

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, especially prison conditions.
Federal and state prisoners. (Confirmed: Jul. 31, 2012)

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois
180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2300 Chicago, IL 60601 http://www.aclu-il.org (312) 201-9740
acluofillinois@aclu-il.org email(312) 201-9760 fax
Focus area/description: The ACLU of Illinois is dedicated to protecting freedom, liberty, equality
and justice for all within the United States. ACLU-IL accomplishes its goals through litigation,
lobbying and education programs. Their Children's Project advocates on behalf of children in the
troubled Illinois juvenile justice system. (Confirmed: Jul. 31, 2012)

Indiana
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of IN

Colorado
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) 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: Aug. 6, 2012)

Colorado Prison Law Project
P.O. Box 181550 Denver, CO 80206 http://www.coloradoprisonlawproject.org
Focus area/description: CPLP provides legal services, primarily in the form of impact litigation, to
prisoners housed in any facility within the geographic confines of Colorado. In addition to impact
litigation, we advocate informally with prisons on behalf of inmates facing serious issues, and provide
issue-specific legal information packets upon request. (Confirmed: Aug. 6, 2012)

Connecticut
Inmates' Legal Assistance: A Program of Schulman & Associates
78 Oak Street PO Box 260237 Hartford, CT 06126 (860) 246-1119 fax(800) 246-1118 phone(860)
301-4527 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: Aug. 1, 2012)

Delaware
American Civil Liberties Union (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 is to preserve and strengthen the individual rights
and liberties of any person in Delaware. (Confirmed: Aug. 29, 2012)

Florida
Florida Institutional Legal Services (FILS)

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. We do not litigate cases involving
post-conviction relief or appeals of criminal convictions. We do not usually litigate individual
damages cases. (Confirmed: Jul. 31, 2012)

Kansas
Legal Services for Prisoners, Inc.
Attn: Steve Kessler 1430 SW Topeka Blvd 3rd Floor Topeka, KS 66612-1819 (785) 296-8887 Main
Focus area/description: State-funded organization that has the ability to assist with post-conviction,
habeas corpus, and civil rights. (Confirmed: Jul. 31, 2012)

Louisiana
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Louisiana
P. O. Box 56157 New Orleans, LA 70156-6157 http://www.laaclu.org/ (504) 522-0617
Focus area/description: Discrimination, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, prisoners' rights,
due process, separation of church and state. (Confirmed: Jul. 31, 2012)

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,
guard-on-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 can not 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: Aug. 13, 2012)

Minnesota
Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP)
William Mitchell College of Law 875 Summit Ave., Room 254 St Paul, MN 55105 (651) 290-6413
phone
Focus area/description: Provides civil and family law legal services to prisoners currently
incarcerated in Minnesota correctional facilities. Additionally, the William Mitchell College of Law
runs a Reentry Clinic that provides reentry services to female prisoners who are nearing their release
dates. (Confirmed: Jul. 31, 2012)

New Jersey
NJ Office of the Corrections Ombudsman
P0 Box 855 Trenton, NJ 08625 http://www.state.nj.us/correctionsombudsman/ (609) 292-8021
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. The Corrections Ombudsman investigates
complaints where the inmate has failed to get satisfactory results through available institutional
channels. (Confirmed: Jul. 31, 2012)

American Civil Liberties Union (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: Aug. 1, 2012)

Virginia
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia
530 East Main Street, Suite 310 Richmond, VA 23219 http://www.acluva.org/ (804) 644-8022
Focus area/description: The ACLU of Virginia is a private, non-profit organization that uses
lobbying, litigation and public education to promote civil liberties and civil rights in the state.
(Confirmed: Aug. 6, 2012)

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: Jul. 24, 2012)

New York

Washington

A Jailhouse Lawyer's Manual--Columbia Human Rights Law Review
Columbia Human Rights Law Review, Attn: JLM Order 435 W. 116th St. New York, NY 10027
http://www3.law.columbia.edu/hrlr/order_jlm.php jlm.board.mail@gmail.com (212) 854-1601
Focus area/description: A Jailhouse Lawyer's Manual Ninth Edition (the "JLM Ninth Edition")
explains the legal rights of prisoners, and how to navigate through the justice process to secure those
rights. It contains information on how to address legal issues on both the federal level and the state
level, with an emphasis on New York State law. To order the JLM, send your name, address, ID
number, institution, and phone number to the address above. Please note that we can not fulfill orders
without payment. (Confirmed: Aug. 2, 2012)

Prisoners' Legal Services of New York
41 State Street, Suite M112 Albany, NY 12207 http://www.plsny.org/ (518) 438-6643 fax(518)
438-8046 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: Jul. 26, 2012)

Legal Aid Society, Prisoners' Rights Project
199 Water Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10038 http://www.legal-aid.org/ (212) 509-8433 fax(212)
577-3530 phone
Focus area/description: Advocates for constitutional and humane conditions of confinement for
prisoners in the New York City and State correctional systems. (Confirmed: Aug. 20, 2012)

Disability Advocates, Inc.
5 Clinton Sq Albany, NY 12207 http://www.disabilityadvocates.org (518) 432-7861
Focus area/description: Provide limited advocacy and advice to prisoners with mental illness,
physical disabilities, and developmental disabilities in select New York counties. Assistance is limited
to disability-related problems. (Confirmed: Jul. 24, 2012)

Pennsylvania
Lewisburg Prison Project, Inc.
P.O. Box 128 Lewisburg, PA 17837-0128 http://www.lewisburgprisonproject.org/ (570) 523-1104
phone
Focus area/description: The Lewisburg Prison Project (LPP) is a non-profit organization that assists
prisoners who write LPP when they encounter treatment they perceive to be illegal or unfair. The
Lewisburg Prison Project primarily assists inmates with issues that arise from their conditions of
confinement. LPP writes to and visits inmates, and contacts prison authorities on behalf of inmates.
The LPP also furnishes inmates with appropriate legal materials. As of 2010, the organization does
not have an attorney on staff; therefore, the LPP is not able to give legal advice, file suits, or address
criminal or post-conviction cases.The Lewisburg Prison Project offers a range of low-cost legal
bulletins ($1-3, prices subject to change) on specific topics concerning prisonerï¿ÂÂ!s
rights. Inmates can write to the LPP to request a bulletin order form. (Confirmed: Jul. 31, 2012)

Disability Rights Network of PA
1414 N. Cameron St. Suite C Harrisburg, PA 17103 http://drnpa.org (800) 692-7443 ext. 400
Phone(877) 375-7139 TTY
Focus area/description: A federally funded, nonprofit agency responsible for providing protection
and advocacy services to people with disabilities. (Confirmed: Jul. 24, 2012)

Rhode Island
Rhode Island Disability Law Center Inc.
275 Westminster St., Suite 401 Providence, RI 02903 http://ridlc.org (401) 831-3150 (800) 733-5332
(401) 831-5335 TDD
Focus area/description: Provides free legal assistance to persons with disabilities. Services include
individual representation to protect rights or to secure benefits and services; self-help information;
educational programs; and administrative and legislative advocacy. (Confirmed: Aug. 20, 2012)

Columbia Legal Services, Institutions Project
101 Yesler Way, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104 http://www.columbialegal.org/ (800) 542-0794 (206)
382-3399 collect
Focus area/description: The Institutions Project (IP) represents people confined in Washington's
jails, prisons, juvenile detention facilities, mental health facilities, and facilities for people with
developmental disabilities. This work has focused on conditions of our clients' confinement,
discrimination, sentencing and placement, alternatives to institutionalization, and access to courts, as
well as issues related to rehabilitation, re-entry, and reductions in recidivism. (Confirmed: Aug. 3,
2012)

West Virginia
West Virginia Advocates, Inc.
Litton Bldg, 4th Floor 1207 Quarrier St Charleston, WV 25301 http://www.wvadvocates.org/ (304)
346-0847
Focus area/description: A private, nonprofit agency mandated by the Federal Government to
advocate for and protect the legal rights of West Virginians with disabilities. (Confirmed: Aug. 3,
2012)

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.

A Jailhouse Lawyer's Manual--Columbia Human Rights Law Review
Columbia Human Rights Law Review, Attn: JLM Order 435 W. 116th St. New York, NY 10027
http://www3.law.columbia.edu/hrlr/order_jlm.php jlm.board.mail@gmail.com (212) 854-1601
Focus area/description: A Jailhouse Lawyer's Manual Ninth Edition (the "JLM Ninth Edition")
explains the legal rights of prisoners, and how to navigate through the justice process to secure those
rights. It contains information on how to address legal issues on both the federal level and the state
level, with an emphasis on New York State law. To order the JLM, send your name, address, ID
number, institution, and phone number to the address above. Please note that we can not fulfill orders
without payment. (Confirmed: Aug. 2, 2012)

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: Jul. 31,
2012)

Lewisburg Prison Project, Inc.
P.O. Box 128 Lewisburg, PA 17837-0128 http://www.lewisburgprisonproject.org/ (570) 523-1104
phone
Focus area/description: The Lewisburg Prison Project (LPP) is a non-profit organization that assists
prisoners who write LPP when they encounter treatment they perceive to be illegal or unfair. The
Lewisburg Prison Project primarily assists inmates with issues that arise from their conditions of
confinement. LPP writes to and visits inmates, and contacts prison authorities on behalf of inmates.
The LPP also furnishes inmates with appropriate legal materials. As of 2010, the organization does
not have an attorney on staff; therefore, the LPP is not able to give legal advice, file suits, or address
criminal or post-conviction cases.The Lewisburg Prison Project offers a range of low-cost legal
bulletins ($1-3, prices subject to change) on specific topics concerning prisonerï¿ÂÂ!s
rights. Inmates can write to the LPP to request a bulletin order form. (Confirmed: Jul. 31, 2012)

Human Rights Defense Center
Prison Legal News PO Box 2420 Brattleboro, VT 05303 http://www.prisonlegalnews.org and
www.humanrightsdefensecenter.org (802) 257-1342 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: Nov. 21, 2012)

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 can not access the internet, Prison Legal News is distributing this resource guide on
paper. Prison Legal News P.O. Box 2420 West Brattleboro, VT 05303 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 28, 2013. 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.