The Action Committee for Women in Prison - Advocates for the humane and compassionate treatment of all incarcerated women; Collaborates with other organizations dedicated to reforming the criminal justice system; Works for the release of individual women prisoners who pose no danger to society; Informs and educates the public; Promotes a shift of focus from punishment to rehabilitation and restorative justice.
Anarchist Black Cross Chicago - Write for their "ABC Information and Resources Guide" (available for download on their website). Contains essays on the politics of the ABC and addresses for local chapters that do prisoner support.
Broken Chains - Support network for inmates in Texas prisons and their families.
Bureauofprisons.com - Unauthorized Federal Prison Manual - Survival guide focused on prisoners' rights, federal prison system, and leading criminal defense attorneys.
California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement - CFASC is dedicated to stopping the inhumane treatment of prisoners within the California penal system, especially those held in solitary confinement. Their ultimate goal is to end the use of solitary confinement, with short-term goals to reduce the use of solitary confinement and to insist on due process and fairness. CFASC supports the five core demands put forth by the Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers.
Canadian Correctional Chaplaincy - The Chaplaincy Program helps the Correctional Service of Canada to meet national and international commitments with respect to the promotion of religious rights and obligations of offenders. The Program is administered by CSC's Chaplaincy Division, which serves as liaison between CSC and the various faith communities in Canada that are represented on the Interfaith committee on Chaplaincy.
Canadian Federal Inmates - A website was created for the purpose of providing Canadian Federal Inmates' and their Families' with a means of communication to the outside world, this to assist Canadian Federal Inmates' to access rehabilitation within the system and to expose any incidents / situations contrary to this statutory right!
Centerforce - Centerforce is one of few agencies in the U.S. to offer a continuum of services for individuals and families during incarceration, reentry and after release. They are headquartered in San Quentin and provide direct services to prisoners in Santa Rita Jail and four state prisons. In addition, Centerforce provides direct services to communities and families of the incarcerated in Oakland, San Francisco, the Bay Area Counties, and Fresno and Madera Counties. Centerforce also specializes in providing health and family supportive services to incarcerated men and women and those reentering their communities of origin after incarceration. Write for further information.
California Prison Focus - Resources and project provided by groups working for prisoners' rights, alternatives to incarceration, prisoner support and prison abolition.
Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul - co-author Tom Lagana
Correctional Association of New York - Founded in 1844, the Correctional Association of New York (CA) is an independent non-profit organization that advocates for a more humane and effective criminal justice system and a more just and equitable society. CA has three working projects: the Women in Prison Project, the Prison Visiting Project, and the Juvenile Justice Project.
Derechos.org - Work includes the socialization of human rights related information and analysis through the internet and other media, the promotion of prosecutions of human rights violators and the support of local human rights NGOs and activists.
DrPrison.com Prison Consulting Services - Whether you're rich, poor, old, young, famous or an average Joe, Dr. Prison wants to give you the know-how to get through prison. Dr. Prison knows prison life, not as a mere spectator like a lawyer or judge, but as someone who has served extensive time in several prisons. Dr. Prison's consultation is not based on some "prison logic" from television or movies, but personal experience with enduring all facets of prison life. The information, knowledge, and educated advice from Dr. Prison will not merely give you confidence; it WILL save your life. Recently, Martha Stewart made it through a 5-month prison sentence with flying colors thanks to a consultation service like this. With the help of Dr. Prison, you too can survive prison and get back to your life. Knowledge is the key!
Education Justice Project - The mission of the Education Justice Project (EJG) is to build a model college-in-prison program that demonstrates the positive impacts of higher education upon incarcerated people, their families, the communities from which they come, and society as a whole. EJP offers education programs to students incarcerated at Danville Correctional Center.
Friends Outside - Friends Outside provides services and support to visitors at each California State Prison. The primary purpose of the Visitor Centers is to remove barriers to visiting in order to encourage visits and thereby support family and community unification. Visitor Centers are located outside the prison walls, but on prison grounds, and usually adjacent to the visitor parking lots. Visitor Centers provide childcare, transportation, information and resources, and a restful and welcoming place to stop for a moment before and after visits. Write for further information.
Hrweb.org - Human Rights Web - includes history of the human rights movement, information on prisoners of conscience, and more.
Human Rights Watch - BEYOND REASON: The Death Penalty and Offenders with Mental Retardation.
Inside Circle Foundation - ICF, a not-for-profit organization created by inmates and ex-convicts, is dedicated to the personal growth of men in prison. The immediate goal is a reduction of prison violence and lower recidivism when inmates parole. The long-term goal is to let these men heal, and achieve meaningful lives. Contributions to ICF are deductible for US and California tax purposes.
The Insight Prison Project - The Insight Prison Project (IPP) has been on a mission to foster insight and lasting behavioral change by prisoners in California correctional systems, by providing them with rehabilitative tools and programs conducted by crime victims, community volunteers and prisoners themselves. Today, IPP provides services to prisoners and parolees in 12 California prisons, 3 county jail facilities, several re-entry programs and other venues.
Jews in Prison - Every faith group is represented in the prison population and each group has its specific needs and associated problems. Some of these problems are not necessarily unique to a particular faith group. The goal of this web site is to attempt to provide support before, during, and after incarceration to both the Jewish inmates and their families and friends. By providing this forum for communication, our prayer and hope is that the pain of incarceration for all concerned will be eased. As it says in Proverbs, chapter 12, verse 25; "Problems of the heart you should speak." The commentaries explain that by speaking with others it makes the problems that much easier.
Jubilee Campaign - Jubilee Campaign USA promotes the human rights and religious liberty of ethnic and religious minorities in countries which imprison, terrorize or otherwise oppress them. We advocate the release of prisoners of conscience and the change of laws as necessary to effect these purposes. Jubilee also advocates against the exploitation of children, paying particular attention to the sex industry in Asia.
Justice For All - Justice for All provides non-profit support services to California prisoners, families & attorneys. We strive for a society in which prisons would not be needed and could not be justified. In order to counter the institutions which devalue the human spirit, we must organize and agitate on every level, and in every arena.
Lansing Correctional Facility Program - Donnelly College is proud to offer an on-site Associate Degree program to the inmates of the Lansing Correctional Facility in Lansing, Kansas. As a Catholic institution, we believe this program has a truly Christian aim to assist prisoners and directly complements our school's founding mission to provide education and community services with personal concern for the needs and abilities of each student, especially those who might not otherwise be served.
The Legal Action Center - The only non-profit law and policy organization in the United States whose sole mission is to fight discrimination against people with histories of addiction, HIV/AIDS, or criminal records, and to advocate for sound public policies in these areas.
Legal Aid Society Prisoner's Rights Project - The Prisoner's Rights Project (PRP) protects and enforces the legal rights of New York City and New York State prisoners through litigation, advice, and assistance to individual prisoners. PRP does not deal with prisoners' criminal cases or sentences or matters related to parole.
Maoist International Movement - MIM is a revolutionary anti-imperialist group fighting criminal injustice, helping prisoners to organize and educate themselves. Sends books to prisoners, and offers prisoners free subscription to our newspaper MIM Notes.
Middle Ground Prison Reform - Working for Arizona's prisoners and their families since 1983. Main areas of activity are: 1) public education about the need for criminal justice reform 2) legislative advocacy on behalf of prisoners and their visitors 3) litigation to protect and define the rights and responsibilities of prisoners and their supporters 4) referral to community resources for ex-offenders. Spanish-speaking volunteers available.
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund - The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is America's legal counsel on issues of race. Through advocacy and litigation, LDF focuses on issues of education, voter protection, economic justice and criminal justice. We encourage students to embark on careers in the public interest through scholarship and internship programs. LDF pursues racial justice to move our nation toward a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans.
Native American Rights Fund - Founded in 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide.
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.
The National Coalition to Free the Angola 3 - The National Coalition to Free the Angola 3 was formed in 1998 to find justice for three innocent and wrongfully convicted men locked down at Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, for nearly three decades.
Nevada C.U.R.E. - We are a support and advocacy group of individuals whose life has been negatively affected by Nevada's criminal justice system. We offer compassionate caring and information to help inmates, their families, and friends navigate the system.
The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice - The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice is a Newark-based urban research and advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement of New Jersey's urban areas and residents. The programs of the Institute are concentrated in four areas: 1) Expanding access to economic opportunity for low-income and minority residents of Newark and other urban areas in the state; 2) Promoting local, regional and state government that is effective, equitable and accountable to the concerns of urban residents and their communities; 3) Ensuring the civil rights and other basic entitlements of minorities and low-income individuals in the state; and 4) Highlighting the interdependence between urban and suburban areas as a means to produce more effective and sustainable public policies.
New York State Prisoner Justice Coalition - Publishes the New York State Prisoner Justice Network Directory, a free 16 page directory of New York justice and prisoner support organizations.
NJ Office of the Corrections Ombudsman - The Office of the Corrections Ombudsman provides a mechanism for the continuing resolution of issues, problems or complaints of state sentenced prisoners within New Jersey's Correctional System regarding their living conditions and treatment.
Ohio University College Program for the Incarcerated - Degrees offered: Associates in Arts, Science, Applied Business, and Individualized Studies; Bachelor of Specialized Studies. Programs Offered: Two study formats are currently available for CPI students: Correspondence Courses and Course Credit by Examination. Offered to inmates in the following Ohio institutions: Rush City, Moose Lake, Lino Lakes, and St. Cloud.
P.A.T.R.I.C.K. Crusade - The People Aligned to Replace Injustice and Cruelty with Knowledge (PATRICK) Crusade is a human rights organization dedicated to the protection of human rights for all people. We believe human rights should be real for everyone simply because they are human beings. The PATRICK Crusade consists of a group of people committed to making a peaceful change in the policies and procedures that direct the actions of those responsible for operating our courts and our State and Federal prison systems. Our efforts are directed at educating those who are unaware of the injustices and human rights abuses that occur in these systems everyday all across the country. The PATRICK CRUSADE is aware, from firsthand experience, of the extent and viciousness of these abuses.
Partnership for Safety & Justice - Advocacy group focused on changing public safety policy in Oregon only. Publishes newsletter and Prisoner Support Directory for Oregon prisoners.
The Pennsylvania Prison Society - Founded in 1787, The Pennsylvania Prison Society is a social justice organization that advocates on behalf of prisoners, formerly incarcerated individuals and their families. Headquartered in Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Prison Society operates through a network of statewide chapters.
Political Prisoners - A Blog for Inmates - This blog is a place where inmates can express themselves and communicate in some fashion with the outside world. Please use this site as a reference for people to find inmates to write to, as all of these entries are genuine and unedited.
Prison Activist Resource Center - PARC is a prison abolitionist group committed to exposing and challenging the institutionalized racism of the prison industrial complex. We are also committed to developing and practicing anti-oppression as individuals and in our organization. PARC believes in strategies and tactics that build safety in oppressed communities without reliance on the police or the PIC. We produce a directory that is free to prisoners upon request, and seek to work in solidarity with prisoners, formerly incarcerated people, their friends and families. We also work with teachers and activists on prison issues. This work includes building action networks and materials that expose human rights violations.
The Prison Arts Coalition - The Prison Arts Coalition (PAC) is an independent space providing information and resources for people creating art in and around the American criminal justice system.
Prisoner Assistant - Prisoner Assistant is a financial concierge company designed exclusively for prisoners. It is the first and only company of its kind. Prisoner Assistant is a leader in Rehabilitation and Re-entry planning services for those incarcerated in the United States. They go well beyond the traditional approach of theoretical education and marginal preparation. They empower the prisoner, and allow them to take control of the direction of their lives. Prisoner Assistant takes a unique approach to assisting prisoners. At the heart of their service is a bank account for each of their clients. This gives the prisoner the freedom to manage their finances and teaches financial responsibility. They then provide a full range of professional services geared toward rehabilitation and re-entry planning. These services include, but are not limited to, Banking and Finance, Virtual Office, Prisoner Concierge, Graphic Design, Social Media, Credit Building and Business Development.
Prisoner Express - The Prisoner Express program, sponsored by the Durland Alternatives Library, promotes rehabilitation by offering inmates information, education and the opportunity for creative self-expression in a public forum. Participation in this program fosters self-exploration, enrichment and knowledge. The Durland Alternatives Library has a number of ongoing programs as parts of its Prisoners Express project. Incarceration is an expensive proposition for taxpayers. Since the prison system is lacking the tools to ensure the effective rehabilitation of inmates, our program is designed to aid men and women wishing to improve themselves and to offer an outlet for their creativity.
Prisoners' Wives Girlfriends and Partners - PWGP has a worldwide network of members and mentors to help support those with imprisoned partners.
Prisoner Visitation and Support - Prisoner Visitation and Support (PVS) is a nationwide visitation that has 300 volunteers across the U.S. who visit federal and military prisoners. Their goal is to visit any prisoner who wishes to receive a visit and has access to all prisons and prisoners in the federal and military prison systems. The PVS volunteers visit once a month, with limited visiting services for Spanish-speaking prisoners.
Prison Fellowship - Prison Fellowship partners with local churches across the country to minister to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families. Publishes a variety of prisoner support literature including their Guide to Prison Survival.
Prison Justice: Brotherhood Report - Since 2001, this has been the website for a report on racism at a medium-security prison in Indiana: "The Brotherhood: Racism and Intimidation among Prison Staff at the Indiana Correctional Facility-Putnamville." By clicking on the Brotherhood Report link, you can read the entire report, including the epilogue and appendices. We are now in the process of building a new website devoted to oversight of the Indiana prison system.
Prison Legal Services of Michigan - Provides the inmates of the Michigan Department of Corrections with advice for dealing with legal issues and materials with which they may aid themselves.
Prison of Peace - Prison of Peace is a non-profit organization, established in 2010, in order to reduce violence and promote peaceful conflict resolution among prison inmates. Peacemaking, mediating, mentoring, training.
Prison Reformer - News and resources on the prison industrial complex.
Prisontalk.com - A highly visited website with many ongoing discussions on prison topics.
Project for Older Prisoners - Law students interview and evaluate older and geriatric inmates (55+) in obtaining parole or other forms of release from incarceration. POPS also runs a "Books for Crooks" program to help build prison libraries. The project serves prisoners in DC, MD, MI, NC and VA.
Project Return - Project Return equips former offenders with the education, coaching, and support services necessary to gain employment and begin a new life. Pre-Release Program: Project Return conducts pre-release programs in correctional facilities to prepare inmates for their release dates. Through these programs, participants learn about Project Return's services and begin job readiness training. Reentry Program: Project Return conducts a 3-day training every week that prepares prisoners to return to their communities.
South Dakota Prisoner Support Group - Their purpose is to provide support to prisoners in jails and prisons and their families, and to prevent abuse of incarcerated men, woman and children. Offers referrals, links, websites, information, news, as well as share their own experiences and problems, in regards to incarcerated family members/friends. No legal advice given.
TGI Justice Project - The Transgender, Gender Variant and Intersex (TGI) Justice Project's mission is to challenge and end the human rights abuses committed against transgender, gender variant/genderqueer and intersex (TGI) people in California prisons and beyond.
Unchained Books - Unchained Books is a small group in Fort Collins, Colorado committed to prisoner support. Our primary focus is collecting donated books and making them available free to people imprisoned in Colorado. In addition to our book project, we also write letters to political prisoners and work on periodic individual prisoner support in the form of fundraising, outreach, and building community awareness about specific legal struggles. Below is a list of prisons in Colorado that currently accept books sent to inmates from Unchained Books: Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility (state); Crowley County Correctional Facility (private); Federal Correctional Institution at Florence (federal); Federal Correctional Institution at Englewood (federal); High Plains Correctional Facility (state); Kit Carson Correctional Center (private); La Vista Correctional Facility (state); Rifle Correctional Center (state); and San Carlos Correctional Facility (state).
Voices.con - The Voices.con website provides a free monthly newsletter written by term-to-life prisoners. The newsletter and website offer a wide range of useful information to prisoners, their families, and other interested parties. Our primary mission is to help long term prisoners and those who are challenging the wrongful denial of parole.
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