This area supports lawyers who are providing legal assistance to prisoners (convicts and pre-trial detainees) with respect to the conditions of their confinement or their treatment by prison personnel. It does not address issues related to criminal law or procedure, sentencing, post-conviction remedies, probation, parole, or immigration detention or other forms of civil incarceration.

The practice area has been developed through a collaboration between Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, the Prisoners' Rights Project of the Legal Aid Society of New York, the Illinois Institute for Community Law, with assistance from the law firms of Mayer Brown, Sullivan & Cromwell, and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan.

New Resources

Over 100 New Library Documents!
Join the site and access all of the resources in the Library, including sample motions, affidavits, and more.

Federal Litigation Video Training Tips Series
See this new series of practical trainings for pro bono attorneys, produced by the Illinois Institute for Community Law, in conjunction with IllinoisLegalAid.org and the law firm of Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw.

Participating Organizations:

New York:
Prisoners' Legal Services of New York
Prisoners' Rights Project of the Legal Aid Society
Pro Bono Net

Illinois:
Illinois Legal Aid Online
Illinois Institute for Community Law

Step One -- Join Site:

Click on "join this area" on the left-hand navigation bar. Please be sure to complete the entire form. Because entry to the site is limited to lawyers providing legal assistance to prisoners, it is important that you provide adequate information about your practice.

After you submit your information, you should receive a short email letting you know that your application has been submitted. Once your application has been reviewed by the practice area hosts, you will receive another email letting you know your membership is ready for use.

Step Two -- Sign up for the Listserv:

After you have received the email letting you know your membership is ready for use, return to the site and log in. Then click on Listserv. You will see a listserv called "Prisoners' Rights." Click on the "subscribe" link directly under the description of that listserv. Your request to subscribe will be forwarded to the moderator for approval, and you will receive an email letting you know your request has been approved.