Incarcerated People's Rights

Connections contains legal resources for currently and formerly incarcerated people. Other helpful information can be found from the following sources. 

ACLU National Prison Project

Provides updated information on current issues and legal developments. Also maintains a Know Your Rights webpage for people currently incarcerated, outlining different scenarios and further resources.

The Legal Aid Society

Provides information and resources for New Yorkers about various legal matters such as immigration, eviction, family law, consumer rights, what to do if you are stopped by the police, and more. Incarcerated people can also contact their Prisoners’ Rights Project with complaints about their treatment in New York facilities (Telephone: 212.577.3530). 


Prison Activist Resource Center’s Resource Page

The Prison Activist Resource Center (PARC) is an activist group and maintains a list of resources for incarcerated individuals and their loved ones.

A Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual

The JLM is written and maintained by the Columbia Human Rights Law Review. It contains 41 chapters of information about challenging convictions or sentences, what people's rights are while they are in prison, and different ways to obtain an early release from prison. Sections V, VI, and VII deal specifically with prison conditions.

The Jailhouse Lawyer's Handbook

Published by the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Jailhouse Lawyer's Handbook is a free resource for people in prison who wish to file a federal lawsuit addressing poor conditions in prison or abuse by prison staff to incarcerated people and their families. It also contains limited general information about the United States legal system.