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Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook
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Download this handbook (7.2mb PDF)
Have a printed copy mailed to someone in prison
Note From the Editors
Chapter One
How to Use the JLH
A
What Is This Handbook?
B
How to Use This Handbook
C
Who Can Use This Handbook
D
Why to Try and Get a Lawyer
E
A Short History of Section 1983 and the Struggle for Prisoners Rights
F
The Uses and Limits of Legal Action
Chapter Two
Overview of Types of Lawsuits and the Prison Litigation Reform Act
A
Section 1983 Lawsuits
B
State Court Cases
C
Federal Torts Claims Act (FTCA)
D
Bivens Actions and Federal Injunctions
E
Brief Summary of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA)
Chapter Three
Your Rights in Prison
A
Your First Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech and Association
B
Your Right to Practice Your Religion
C
Your Right to be Free from Discrimination
D
Your Procedural Due Process Rights Regarding Punishment, Administrative Transfers, and Segregation
E
Your Right to Privacy and to be Free from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures
F
Your Right to be Free from Cruel and Unusual Punishment
G
Your Right to Use the Courts
H
Issues of Importance to Women in Prison
I
Issues of Importance to LGBTQ+ People and People Living with HIV/AIDS
J
Issues of Importance to Pretrial Detainees
K
Issues of Importance to Non-Citizens and Immigration Detainees
L
Protection of Prisoners Under International Law
Chapter Four
Who to Sue and What to Ask for
A
What to Ask for in Your Lawsuit
B
Injunctions
C
Money Damages
D
Who You Can Sue
E
Settlements
F
Class Actions
Chapter Five
How to Start Your Lawsuit
A
When to File Your Lawsuit
B
Where to File Your Lawsuit
C
How to Start Your Lawsuit
D
How to Serve Your Legal Papers
E
Getting Immediate Help from the Court
F
Signing Your Papers
Chapter Six
What Happens After You File Your Suit
A
Short Summary of a Lawsuit
B
Dismissal by the Court and Waiver of Reply
C
How to Respond to a Motion to Dismiss Your Complaint
D
The Problem of Mootness
E
Discovery
F
Summary Judgment
G
What to Do If Your Complaint Is Dismissed or the Court Grants Defendants Summary Judgment
Chapter Seven
The Legal System and Legal Research
A
The Importance of Precedent
B
Legal Citations – How to Find Court Decisions and Other Legal Material
C
Legal Writing
Appendices
A
Glossary of Terms
B
Sample Complaint
C
FTCA Form
D
Other Legal Forms
E
State Supplements
:
Grievance Procedures, PREA Rules, & LGBTQ+ Policies Applicable in Certain States
Alabama
California
Florida
Georgia
Louisiana
Mississippi
New York
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Summary of Name Change Policies Nationwide
F
Excerpts From the PLRA
G
Model Questionnaire for United Nations Special Rapporteur On Torture
H
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
I
Sources of Legal Support
J
Tips for Reaching Out to Journalists and the Media
K
Prisoners Rights Books and Newsletters
L
Free Book Programs
M
District Court Addresses
Alabama (11Th Circuit)
Alaska (9Th Circuit)
Arizona (9Th Circuit)
Arkansas (8Th Circuit)
California (9Th Circuit)
Colorado (10Th Circuit)
Connecticut (2D Circuit)
Delaware (3D Circuit)
District of Columbia (D.C. Circuit)
Florida
Georgia (11Th Circuit)
Guam (9Th Circuit)
Hawaii (9Th Circuit)
Idaho (9Th Circuit)
Illinois (7Th Circuit)
Indiana (7Th Circuit)
Iowa (8Th Circuit)
Kansas (10Th Circuit)
Kentucky (6Th Circuit)
Louisiana (5Th Circuit)
Maine (1St Circuit)
Maryland (4Th Circuit)
Massachusetts (1St Circuit)
Michigan (6Th Circuit)
Minnesota (8Th Circuit)
Mississippi (5Th Circuit)
Missouri (8Th Circuit)
Montana (9Th Circuit)
Nebraska (8Th Circuit)
Nevada (9Th Circuit)
New Hampshire (1St Circuit)
New Jersey (3D Circuit)
New Mexico (10Th Circuit)
New York (2D Circuit)
North Carolina (4Th Circuit)
North Dakota (8Th Circuit)
Northern Mariana Islands (9Th Circuit)
Ohio (6Th Circuit)
Oklahoma (10Th Circuit)
Oregon (9Th Circuit)
Pennsylvania (3RD Circuit)
Puerto Rico (1St Circuit)
Rhode Island (1St Circuit)
South Carolina (4Th Circuit)
South Dakota (8Th Circuit)
Tennessee (6Th Circuit)
Texas (5Th Circuit)
Utah (10Th Circuit)
Vermont (2D Circuit)
Virgin Islands (3D Circuit)
Virginia (4Th Circuit)
Washington (9Th Circuit)
West Virginia (4Th Circuit)
Wisconsin (7Th Circuit)
Wyoming (10Th Circuit)
N
Constitutional Amendments
❰
B
Sample Complaint
❱
D
Other Legal Forms
Please complete the following form to have a printed copy of the
Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook
sent to someone in prison.
Use the checkboxes to indicate which sections of the
Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook
you want to print or download as PDF.
By Chapter
By Topic
1.
How to Use the Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook
6 pages
2.
Overview of Different Types of Lawsuits & the Prison Litigation Reform Act
7 pages
3.
Healthcare, Safety, Religion, Speech, Privacy, Discipline, Discrimination, LGBTQIA Rights
47 pages
4.
Who to Sue & What to Ask For
10 pages
5.
How to Start Your Lawsuit (includes samples & forms)
15 pages
6.
What Happens After You File Your Suit
12 pages
7.
The Legal System and Basics of Legal Research
6 pages
8.
Appendices
25 pages
Total selected:
0
pages.
Using the Legal System
Samples & Forms
6
Who to Sue & What to Ask For
2
Legal Research & Winning Your Case
3
Appendices
2
Your Rights Regarding
Speech and Association
3
Discrimination
2
Violence, Conditions, and Medical Care
3
Punishment, Transfers & Segregation
2
Religion
2
Privacy, Searches & Seizures
2
Access to Lawyers and the Courts
2
International Law
2
Issues of Importance to
Women in Prison
3
LGBTQ+ People in Custody
3
Pretrial Detainees
2
Non-Citizens and Immigration Detainees
2
Total pages selected:
0
APPENDIX C: FTCA Form
Find a blank copy of the FTCA form on the following two pages.
Back to top
Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook
Note From the Editors
Chapter One
How to Use the JLH
Chapter Two
Overview of Types of Lawsuits and the Prison Litigation Reform Act
Chapter Three
Your Rights in Prison
Chapter Four
Who to Sue and What to Ask for
Chapter Five
How to Start Your Lawsuit
Chapter Six
What Happens After You File Your Suit
Chapter Seven
The Legal System and Legal Research
Appendices
A
Glossary of Terms
B
Sample Complaint
C
FTCA Form
D
Other Legal Forms
E
State Supplements
:
Grievance Procedures, PREA Rules, & LGBTQ+ Policies Applicable in Certain States
F
Excerpts From the PLRA
G
Model Questionnaire for United Nations Special Rapporteur On Torture
H
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
I
Sources of Legal Support
J
Tips for Reaching Out to Journalists and the Media
K
Prisoners Rights Books and Newsletters
L
Free Book Programs
M
District Court Addresses
N
Constitutional Amendments