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Adams State University has developed a Prison Education Program that offers degree opportunities to individuals who live in prison. What is unique about this program is that it is available in all prison settings. It is completely print based, and unlike many prison educational programs, it is available to anyone, regardless of the length of sentence. While the cost is currently out of pocket, it is hoped that in the future the Pell Grant will be available to use towards tuition.
American Bible Academy Resource Center
The American Bible Academy offers Bible correspondence courses in English as well as Spanish to individuals who live in prison, at no cost.
This is an organization formed to support returning citizens in the state of California. On their website is information on how to join as well as request an orientation. Members have access to supportive services including case management, trauma-informed counseling, housing, education, employment training, and mentorship. ARC has offices in Los Angeles and Sacramento.
As with all organizations of this nature, resources are limited. What we love about Arizona Justice Project is that they are not only interested in ‘actual innocence’, but also manifest injustice. Another point worth noting is their clear cut application process. The website describes what it takes to qualify, as well as the screening and application process. It is very well defined, but again, resources are limited, they accept donations, and it is worth applying if you have a case that falls within their qualifications, which includes convictions that took place in Arizona.
AIDA’s goal is to eradicate domestic abuse, and they offer correspondence programs for individuals in the California Department of Corrections. On their website, under programs, you can sign someone up to receive AIDA By Mail, which is a course designed to give participants tools for healthy relationships, or Understanding The Cycle of Violence, helping individuals identify how their cycle of violence began.
If you know someone who lives in prison, you are probably aware that not all prisons offer educational opportunities and if they do, who can take them is limited. Blackstone offers a correpondence paralegal program that is available to anyone, regardless of sentence or circumstances. Although you have to pay out of pocket, they offer three different payment plans.
This organization offers free books to people who live in prison in Virginia only. On the site is a downloadable form that can be sent to a person living in a Virginia prison. They fill out the form or simply write to the organization and request up to three free books a month.
This organization was founded by a formerly incarcerated individual and aims to help people transitioning home. They have approximately 20 beds available to them for use in transitional housing in the state of Virginia and can provide other related support services. If you would like to discuss housing with them, you can go to the Programs tab, Housing, and on that page, click on ‘contact us’.
California Innocence Project (Southern California)
This organization considers cases that originated in Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. As with all Innocence Projects, they are in such high demand, they can not take every case. If you have a case for factual innocence and your conviction took place in the above counties, consider applying. Unlike some innocence groups, they will consider innocence cases that involve things other than DNA, including witnesses recanting, new scientific discoveries, misconduct or ineffective assistance.
Centurion offers legal help to the innocent. As with all such organizations, they get an overwhelming amount of applicants. They also have certain requirements, such as not having any involvement in the crime. Their focus is innocence and those sentenced to life or given a death sentence. The existence of DNA is not a requirement – which sets them apart from a lot of organizations.
Center On Wrongful Convictions
The Center will consider requests received from a person who lives in prison and has a case in which they are seeking assistance regarding actual innocence and are in no way connected to the crime for which they are convicted. Information is included on their website on how to request assistance.
Chicago Books To Women In Prison
A Chicago based volunteer collective that distributes paperback books free of charge to people incarcerated in women’s prisons nationwide. They are dedicated to offering women behind bars the opportunity for self-empowerment, education, and entertainment that reading provides.
College Guild is a volunteer run organization that offers educational coursework to people who live in prison at no cost. What makes them even more of a standout is that they offer these courses to individuals regardless of sentence, unlike many educational programs within facilities themselves which are often only offered to those with upcoming release dates. Too many programs are not available to everyone.
The CPCS Innocence Program provides legal assistance to those wrongly convicted of a crime in the state of Massachusetts. They accept both DNA and non-DNA cases. There is an application form on their website, as well as additional information on the types of cases they focus on.
Debate Between Maine State Prison & Wake Forest College
This is a very informative resource in any discussion on the topic of Life Without Parole Sentencing. This debate between Maine State Prison and Wake Forest College took place on April 25th, 2023, and includes real life stories as well as a great deal of research and statistical information.
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
This group offers a variety of support services in Detroit, Michigan, everything from emergency shelter to job training to support with addiction. They assist returning individuals in preparing for and finding employment as well as housing.
EJI is an Alabama based private, nonprofit organization that challenges poverty and racial injustice, advocates for equal treatment in the criminal justice system, and creates hope for marginalized communities.
Families Against Mandatory Minimums
FAMM is an organization that fights for punishments that fit the crime and the offender. The site also includes a ‘Toolkit’, which provides practical ways a person can join in sharing information with the public regarding the impact of mandatory minimums.
Returning home is not easy, and there are resources for people who find themselves in that situation. Sometimes that could be exactly what a person needs to get to the next step. Find Help helps to connect people to nearby resources. By submitting your zip code on the site, you can find local resources such as food pantries, medical assistance or other free or reduced cost programs.
Flip The Script – Detroit Office
The contact information for this Detroit based office is located near the bottom of their page. This group helps individuals during re-entry in overcoming barriers to employment, as well as help with basic needs regarding life skills, education, and financial coaching. They can assist with things such as resumes, interview practice, and anger and substance abuse education. They even help with obtaining a birth certificate or driver’s license, among other things.
I wish this existed everywhere, but Forever Family specifically supports families in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Forever Family exists to provide support services to parents and their children who have been impacted by incarceration.
As with most such organizations, they have a list of criteria that must be met in order to assist somemone with a claim of innocence. One requirement is that you have a claim of actual innocence that can be proven through modern DNA testing or newly available evidence. They also only serve those convicted in Georgia. See their site for specific instructions on how to apply for help.
The Great North Innocence Project will consider cases of actual innocence in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. On their site, under the Cases tab, there is a link to instructions on how to submit a case for consideration.
This organization fights for the wrongly convicted in Hawaii. There is a link to instructions and an application on their home page. To be considered, you must be factually innocent.
This is a Michigan based organization that focuses on skill development and job placement. They meet with people individually and form a plan for moving forward with employment goals.
This organization is focused on aiding people who are transitioning from prison with things such as clothing, food, transportation, housing and basic necessities such as obtaining a driver’s license. They help people in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area.
Hour Children works exclusively with families in the state of New York. This organization offers several programs designed to support the relationship between mothers who reside in prisons in New York and their children. They also offer support during the transition home.
Humanity For Prisoners serves those living in Michigan prisons. Their purpose is to provide one-on-one support services to their clients, helping them obtain documents, assisting in preparation for parole consideration, connect with family or friends, and various other empowerment services including those related to healthcare. These are critical services for individuals that do not have access to the tools needed to advocate for themselves.
A national organization that gives a voice to prisoners, their families and others affected by criminal justice policies in Washington. HRDC currently distributes around 50 different criminal justice, legal and self-help titles, and continues to publish Prison Legal News, which has become a 72-page monthly publication with subscribers in all 50 states and internationally. In addition to publishing, HRDC engages in prisoner rights litigation in federal courts across the United States.
Hustle 2.0 offers a correspondence rehabilitation program for people who live in prison. On their website you can find a downloadable “Preseason Application” for a scholarship to the program that you can mail to someone in prison to fill out and apply. You also have the option of purchasing the program or making a donation to support the program being offered to individuals who cannot afford it. In addition to “The Preseason”, which individuals can apply for at no cost to them, there are follow up correspondence courses that can be purchased for $50. The programs also provide a certificate upon completion.
This Innocence Project will only consider requests made directly from people living in Idaho prisons. Those applying need to write directly to the project, clearly state their innocence and also have at least five years left on their sentence.
Illinois Prisoner Rights Coalition
This is an organization that focuses on ensuring that individuals housed in prisons in Illinois have access to proper medical care, as well as other human rights. While that is their focus, they also offer various support services to the families of those incarcerated, such as organizing vigils or offering guidance on how to navigate the system. They serve those in the state of Illinois.
This organization supports reading in prisons and sends reading material to people who live in prison for free. The services tab on their website more clearly defines what they offer and also supplies information on how you can request materials for your loved one, or send the information to them to request materials directly.
OAR assists those coming home with employment, housing, cell phones, laptops, clothing, food, and more in Alexandria, Virginia. They also provide weekly support groups.
This organization supports returning justice involved individuals with opportunities, alternatives and resources in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties in Virginia.
Opportunity, Alliance, Re-entry
Richmond, VA, based non-profit organization providing reentry services to those currently incarcerated and those most recently released from jail or prison. OAR strives to be part of the returning citizen’s journey back to a life of integrity, dignity, and hope.
The Prison Book Program allows for loved ones or individuals who live in prison to request books. This program is not an accepted book vendor for all prisons, additional information can be found on the site.
PFA is a 501(c)(3) established to support family members and children of individuals involved in the justice system. PFA recognizes that those left behind are also greatly impacted by incarceration. Among other things, they have a variety of peer support meetings, many available via zoom. Their calendar of events can be found on their website.
Sign your loved one up for the Prisoner Express Newsletter. It is free and will be sent out every six months and includes writing, art, and poetry from people who live in prison as well as encouragement and hope.
Prisoner Visitation & Support (PVS)
This organization aims to provide people in federal and military prisons social support through face-to-face visits. They match volunteers with individuals, with priority given to those who do not ordinarily receive visits from family and friends, want or need visits, are in solitary confinement, are on death row, or are serving long sentences.
Rev. Cari Willis is a Spiritual Director, writer and blogger that offers pastoral care to the men on death row around the country.
This Innocence Project serves those who have been convicted in the state of Virginia, have a final conviction, and are actually innocent. There is a form on their site and instructions on how to apply for consideration.
Virginia Department of Social Services
The Department of Social Services offers a variety of services related to food security, housing and medical care in Virginia.
The WWNG is a New Jersey based organization dedicated to helping families get justice in our Criminal Justice and Prison System.
