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Recursos en español (Resources in Spanish)
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Hot Topics
Arizona Prison Conditions
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Arizona Federal District Court Information May 2013
Instructions for a Prisoner Filing a Civil Rights Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.
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Arizona’s Inmate Grievance System (Medical and Non-Medical) July 2021
How to exhaust your administrative remedies in Arizona state prisons.
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Benefits for People on Parole or Discharging from ADC April 2019
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Case Update April 2023
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Compassionate Release and Medical Clemency October 2023
Application for an Arizona governor’s commutation of sentence.
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Hepatitis C Treatment June 2023
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Justice (Innocence) Project Questionnaire April 2019
Arizona Justice Project questionnaire for those wrongfully convicted of a crime.
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LGBTQ Resources April 2019
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Maricopa County Post-Conviction Relief April 2019
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Medical Care: HNR Charges and Offsite Medical Bill Charges April 2019
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Pro Se Handbook September 2013
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Protective Custody and Safety Claims April 2019
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Religious Rights and and Religious Diets in Arizona Prisons January 2021
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Requesting Medical Records May 2023
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Section 1983 Civil Rights Lawsuit Complaint Form May 2015
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Sending Legal Mail and Documents to Attorneys and the Courts April 2019
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Sexual Assault and Harassment in Arizona Prisons June 2019
Also see the Arizona Department of Corrections policy on sexual offense reporting (Departmental Order 125)
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Substance Use Disorder Treatment June 2023
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Suing an Arizona State Agency December 2013
Handbook published by the Arizona Attorney General’s office that explains the process for an individual to sue a state agency.
California County Jail Conditions
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County Jail Grievances August 2022
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Information About the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) August 2024 new
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Riverside County Jail COVID-19 Information May 2020
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Riverside County Jail General Information Letter May 2023
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Suing County Jail Officials for Money Damages January 2020
Information on how to sue California local jail officials for money damages.
California Criminal Convictions - Challenges and Resentencing
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California Correctional Health Care Services Website
Resources and information on the health care policies of the California prison system.
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California State Habeas Corpus Manual June 2019
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Challenging a Plea Bargain Conviction or Sentence January 2023
Challenging a conviction or sentence after accepting a plea bargain.
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Collateral Challenges to California Criminal Convictions January 2020
A “collateral attack” is an indirect or secondary challenge to a conviction or sentence after or instead of a direct appeal. This letter summarizes the uses of state and federal petitions for writ of habeas corpus, and other ways to seek relief from certain types of convictions or sentences.
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Compassionate Release and Medical Parole January 2024 new
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Direct Appeals of Criminal Convictions and Sentences March 2023
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Enhancements and Sentences – New Laws February 2024 new
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Federal Habeas Corpus Manual January 2015
A federal habeas petition can only challenge a conviction or the length of a sentence (including some issues involving denial of prison sentence credits or parole).
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New Murder Laws (SB 1437 and SB 775) November 2021
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Racial Justice Act April 2024 new
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Resentencing Under PC 1172.1 (CDCR or DA Recommendation or on Court’s Own Motion) November 2023
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Restitution, Fines, and Fees October 2024 new
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Three Strikes and Two Strikes Laws February 2024 new
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Veterans/Military Members Resentencing Law October 2022
Law allowing some people with prior military service to be considered for resentencing based on service-related trauma, substance abuse, or mental health problems.
California Parole - Consideration, Conditions, and Revocations
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BPH Parole Hearing Procedures and Preparation April 2024 new
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BPH Parole Hearings: Challenging BPH’s or the Governor’s Decision April 2024 new
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California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Regulations
Current, recently adopted, and proposed regulations of the California Department of Corrections and the Board of Parole Hearings.
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California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Website
Extensive information about California’s prison and parole systems, including inmate locator, facility maps and addresses, population reports, and a visiting guidebook.
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California State Habeas Corpus Manual June 2019
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Community Resource Directory for People on Parole (on the CDCR website)
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Compassionate Release and Medical Parole January 2024 new
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Elder Parole May 2023
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Federal Habeas Corpus Manual January 2015
A federal habeas petition can only challenge a conviction or the length of a sentence (including some issues involving denial of prison sentence credits or parole).
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Parole Manual April 2021
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Proposition 57: “Nonviolent Offender” Parole March 2024 new
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Registration and Parole Conditions for People with Section 290 Offenses November 2022
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UnCommon Law Parole Hearing Resources
UnCommon Law is a law office specializing in California parole suitability. The UnCommonLaw website has numerous detailed information packets about the parole hearing process and how to prepare for a hearing.
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Youthful Offender Parole October 2024 new
California Prison Conditions
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Administrative Grievances and Appeals December 2023 new
How to file an administrative grievance and appeal challenging CDCR policies or actions.
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Alternative Custody and Reentry Programs March 2022
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California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Regulations
Current, recently adopted, and proposed regulations of the California Department of Corrections and the Board of Parole Hearings.
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California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Website
Extensive information about California’s prison and parole systems, including inmate locator, facility maps and addresses, population reports, and a visiting guidebook.
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California State Habeas Corpus Manual June 2019
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CDCR Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) Program March 2021
Information regarding CDCR’s Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) Program
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Confidential Information in CDCR Decisions May 2020
Rights concerning the use of confidential information by prison and parole staff in disciplinary hearings, parole revocation proceedings, and classification and segregation actions.
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D. Specter, Everything Revolves Around Overcrowding: The State of California’s Prisons, Federal Sentencing Reporter, Vol. 22, No. 3 February 2010
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Excessive Force by Prison Staff June 2017
Information about improper or unlawful or use of force by prison staff.
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Family (Overnight) Visiting February 2019
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Family Ties — Prison Placement or Transfer Close to Family November 2023
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Hepatitis C Information April 2022
Information regarding the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
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In re Escareno: Unsanitary Dining Hall Conditions July 2019
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Information About the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) August 2024 new
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Law Library Access and Contents September 2022
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Legal Mail and Documents January 2023
Information on sending confidential legal mail to attorneys and the courts.
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Non-designated Programming Buildings and Yards April 2023
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Personal Injury Lawsuits for Money Damages Against Prison Officials Manual July 2024 new
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Personal Property: Remedies for Damage or Loss by CDCR Staff October 2018
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Personal Safety in California Prisons July 2024 new
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Proposition 57: “Nonviolent Offender” Parole March 2024 new
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R Suffixes September 2022
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Religious Rights and Religious Diets in Prison May 2023
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Requesting CDCR Medical Records April 2024 new
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Resentencing Under PC 1172.1 (CDCR or DA Recommendation or on Court’s Own Motion) November 2023
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RHU Placements January 2024 new
Rights regarding placement and conditions in ASUs
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Rule Violation Reports December 2019
Know your rights during a prison rule violation proceeding.
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Security Threat Group (Gang) Validation, Placement, and Debriefing January 2024 new
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Sexual Abuse in California Prisons October 2022
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Staff Misconduct Investigations November 2022
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Time Credits for Good Conduct and Programming July 2024 new
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Transgender People in California Prisons April 2023
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Valley Fever Information April 2019
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Visiting Information February 2019
Other Resources
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ACLU National Prison Project
More information about legal challenges to prison conditions, including a list of interesting publications
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California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Regulations
Current, recently adopted, and proposed regulations of the California Department of Corrections and the Board of Parole Hearings.
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California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Website
Extensive information about California’s prison and parole systems, including inmate locator, facility maps and addresses, population reports, and a visiting guidebook.
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Higher Education After Incarceration October 2022
According to a report by the Prison Policy Initiative, only 4% of formerly incarcerated individuals have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, and they experience an unemployment rate of 27%. Studies show that having stable employment and a higher-education degree can reduce recidivism. Intelligent.com created a guide for people with prior convictions to learn about going to college. They provide information about various grants and scholarships, advocacy programs and resources for formerly incarcerated individuals, and other vital information to help them earn a degree.
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Immigration Information for People in California Prisons and Jails November 2023
From Prison to ICE to Freedom: A Handbook for Immigrants Inside, written by Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, Asian Prisoner Support Committee (APSC), and Kony Kim.
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Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
A non-profit that advocates for people in California prisons and on parole, child and family issues. The LSPC resources page includes numerous manuals, such as Fighting for Our Rights: A Toolbox for Family Advocates of California Prisoners, The Incarcerated Parents Manual, Child Custody and Visitation Rights Manual for Incarcerated Parents, What to Plan for When You Are Pregnant at CIW, and Suing a Local Public Entity, and What to Plan for When You Are Pregnant at California Institution for Women.
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Nolo Press
Many free legal research and information resources, along with information on low cost self-help legal products.
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Prison Legal News
Reporting on prison news and court decision.
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Resume and Employment Guide for People With Disabilities March 2023
This guide from Resume Builder covers best practices for resume writing, laws that protect people with disabilities from discrimination, and several other topics that one should know about as a person with disabilities in the workforce.
Disclaimer: Prison Law Office is not responsible for the information presented in the guide. Posting this guide is not an endorsement of Resume Builder’s services. This post is intended for informational purposes only.
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Root and Rebound
A non-profit legal organization providing information and advocacy to protect the rights of people reintegrating into the community. Resources for people in California include an extensive Roadmap to Re-entry Guide and a weekly re-entry help phone hotline.
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TGI Justice Project May 2019
TGI Justice Project is a group of transgender, gender variant and intersex people—inside and outside of prisons, jails and detention centers—creating a united family in the struggle for survival and freedom. Their materials include
Still We Rise: A Resource Packet for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People in Prison,a Guider to Legally Changing Your Name While Incarcerated, and A Transgender/Gender Nonconforming Guide to Parole Preparation. -
The Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
A collection of documents and information from civil rights cases accross the United States, including hundreds of prison and jail conditions lawsuits.
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The Jailhouse Lawyer’s Handbook, published by the Center for Constitutional Rights
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UnCommon Law Parole Hearing Resources
UnCommon Law is a law office specializing in California parole suitability. The UnCommonLaw website has numerous detailed information packets about the parole hearing process and how to prepare for a hearing.
Recent Projects and Development
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Overview: The US-European Criminal Justice Innovation Program is working to bring the innovative and humane approaches to sentencing, diversion, treatment (physical and behavioral health), conditions of confinement, and community reentry systems, practiced by the Norwegian Criminal Justice System, applied here in the US.
North Dakota: DOJ Changes Course: Pilot Program is a Success
Hawaii: The Work Begins with First Task Force Meeting