How to file administrative grievances and appeals (Forms 602-1/602-2 and 602 HC), which sometimes can solve prison and parole issues and usually must be completed before a court challenge.

This resource is available in Spanish as “Como presentar una queja y una apelación administrativa de CDCR” on our Spanish resources page.

Form for complaining about problems with a lawyer, such as failure to communicate, ineffective assistance, and over-billing

Information on legal actions for challenging a parole denial, rescission or reversal, including common legal issues that can be raised

Form to authorize a lawyer, advocate, or family member to obtain documents from a person's CDCR file. (Note: There is a different form for authorizing release of health care information.)

This resource is available in Spanish as “Formulario de autorización de archivo custodial del CDCR” on our Spanish resources page.

Information on the Department of Risk Management process for asking for compensation for injury or loss of property caused by prison or jail staff. This process must be completed before filing a state lawsuit seeking money damages.

Information and forms for filing a state habeas corpus petition. A state habeas corpus petition can be used to challenge policies or actions by prison or jail staff or (in some circumstances) to challenge a criminal conviction or sentence.

This resource is available in Spanish as “Peticiones de hábeas corpus ante el Tribunal Estatal de California” on our Spanish resources page.

Database maintained by the National Immigration Legal Services Directory for orginizations offering immigration services. Searchable by zip code or name of institution.

Tips on how to look for a lawyer to take a case, plus information on when courts may appoint a lawyer.

This resource is available in Spanish as “Información sobre solicitudes de recomendación de abogado” on our Spanish resources page.

Link to the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians complaint information and forms

Link to the Medical Board of California complaint information and forms

Information and form for authorizing a lawyer, advocate, or family member to get documents from a person's CDCR health records.

This resource is available in Spanish as “Cómo solicitar información o expedientes médicos al CDCR” on our Spanish resources page.

Link to the Governor's website information and forms for requesting a pardons or commutation

Information about federal civil rights lawsuits (§ 1983) and state tort or civil rights lawsuits seeking money damages for injuries or property loss, including the administrative claims that must be filed to preserve rights to sue and filing timelines.

This resource is available in Spanish as “Demandas de indemnización por daños y perjucios contra agentes penitencieros o contra el personal de prisiónes de California” on our Spanish resources page.

How to ask for replacement or money compensation when prison staff lose or damage an incarcerated person's property

Link to the court's Handbook for people bringing their own lawsuits, such as federal civil rights (§ 1983) cases

Information about a relatively simple type of legal action for seeking money damages for personal injury or loss or damage of property

U.S. Supreme Court Guide to Filing In Forma Pauperis Cases, for filing a petition for asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case following completion of lower court appeal and/or writ processes

Summary of who can be sentenced under the three-strikes law and two-strikes law

Information and forms for reporting and requesting benefits for an injury from an assigned prison job.

This resource is available in Spanish as “Beneficios de compensación para trabajadores para personas en prisiones de California” on our Spanish resources page.