Jailhouse Lawyer's Handbook - Sentencing and Justice Reform ...

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NOTE FROM THE EDITORS This Handbook is a resource for prisoners who wish to file a Section 1983 lawsuit in federal court regarding poor conditions in prison and / or abuse by prison staff. It also contains limited information about legal research and the American legal system. The Handbook is available free to anyone: prisoners, lawyers, families, friends, activists and others. We hope that you find this Handbook helpful and that it provides some aid in protecting your rights behind bars. As you work your way through a legal system that is often frustrating and unfair, know that you are not alone in your strugglr for justice. Good luck! In struggle, Ian Head Rachel Meeropo Jailhouse Lawyer’s Handbook How to Bring a Federal Lawsuit to Challenge Violations of Your Rights in Prison Published by the CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS and the NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD 4th Edition, Revised in 2003. Formerly known as the Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual, published by the National Lawyers Guild. Original version by Brian Glick and the Prison Law Collective, 1974 This Handbook is available on the internet at http://ccrjustice.org/jailhouselawyer
JAILHOUSE LAWYER’S HANDBOOK Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 1 A. WHAT IS THIS HANDBOOK ............................................................................................................ 1 B. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK.....................................................................................................1 C. WHO CAN USE THIS HANDBOOK.................................................................................................. 2 1. Prisoners in City or County Jail can use this Handbook.................................................................. 2 2. Prisoners in Federal Prison can use this Handbook ........................................................................ 2 3. Prisoners in Private Prison can use this Handbook ......................................................................... 3 4. Prisoners in Every State can use this Handbook .............................................................................. 3 5. Keeping Up to Date and Learning More Details.............................................................................. 4 D. WHY TO TRY AND GET A LAWYER ............................................................................................. 4 E. MONITORING YOUR LAWYER AND CASE .................................................................................. 5 F. A SHORT HISTORY OF SECTION 1983 AND THE STRUGGLES FOR PRISONERS RIGHTS .. 5 G. THE USES AND LIMITS OF LEGAL ACTIONS.............................................................................. 6 CHAPTER TWO: PLANNING YOUR SECTION 1983 SUIT ............................................................... 8 A. YOU CAN SUE ABOUT CERTAIN VIOLATIONS OF YOUR FEDERAL RIGHTS BY STATE EMPLOYEES............................................................................................................................................ 8 1. Violations of Your Federal Rights: Conditions and Treatment in Prison......................................... 8 2. “Under Color of State Law”............................................................................................................. 9 B. THE PRISON LITIGATION REFORM ACT (PLRA)........................................................................ 9 C. YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION .................................................................... 10 1. Your Right to Freedom of Speech & Expression in Prison............................................................. 11 (a) Access to Reading Materials ......................................................................................................... 12 (b) Free Expression of Political Beliefs.............................................................................................. 13 (c) Limits on Censorship of Mail ........................................................................................................ 14 (d) Your Right to Telephone Access.................................................................................................... 15 2. Your Right to Freedom of Religious Activity ..................................................................................15 3. Protection from Racial Discrimination........................................................................................... 18 4. Protection from Sexual Discrimination .......................................................................................... 18 5. Due Process Rights Regarding Punishment, Administrative Transfers, and Segregation.............. 20 6. Fourth Amendment Limits on Prison Searches and Seizures.......................................................... 22 7. Eighth Amendment Protection from Physical Brutality.................................................................. 23 8. Your Right to Decent Conditions in Prison..................................................................................... 23 9. Your Right to Medical Care............................................................................................................ 25 10. The Rights of Pretrial Detainees................................................................................................... 27 D. INJUNCTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 28 1. When You Can Get an Injunction ................................................................................................... 29 2. Preliminary Injunctions .................................................................................................................. 29 3. Termination of an Injunction .......................................................................................................... 30 E. MONEY DAMAGES ......................................................................................................................... 30 F. WHOM YOU CAN SUE .................................................................................................................... 32 1. Whom You Can Get An Injunction Against..................................................................................... 32 2. Whom You Can Get Money Damages From ................................................................................... 33 3. What Happens to Your Money Damages ........................................................................................ 33 G. SETTLEMENTS ................................................................................................................................ 34 H. CLASS ACTIONS.............................................................................................................................. 34 CHAPTER THREE: HOW TO START YOUR LAWSUIT.................................................................. 36 A. WHEN TO FILE YOUR SECTION 1983 SUIT................................................................................ 36
Page 1: Jailhouse Lawyer’s Handbook How t
Page 5 and 6: APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY OF TERMS......
Page 7 and 8: prisoners; and to have access to an
Page 9 and 10: 5. Keeping Up to Date and Learning
Page 11 and 12: the public eye and had some positiv
Page 13 and 14: Chapter Two: Planning Your Section
Page 15 and 16: elief in the federal courts. While
Page 17 and 18: number is not on their list of ten
Page 19 and 20: violated the constitution when they
Page 21 and 22: your belief is both religious and s
Page 23 and 24: another law that protects prisoners
Page 25 and 26: courts use a less strict standard o
Page 27 and 28: U.S. 460 (1983), the most important
Page 29 and 30: deprived of a basic human need. Sub
Page 31 and 32: Courts generally agree that the tes
Page 33 and 34: (2) by showing that the regulation
Page 35 and 36: (3) The threat of harm that you fac
Page 37 and 38: to your own and see what the court
Page 39 and 40: orders pending against the prisoner
Page 41 and 42: Chapter Three: How to Start Your La
Page 43 and 44: your prison is in. You do not have
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Page 49 and 50: : Civil Action No. : --------------
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WRITE STATEMENT HERE I declare unde
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o does not sign your TRO. (The quot
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submit a Declaration for Entry of D
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If the judge does decide to dismiss
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major issue. Note: If you defeat t
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Center’s litigation guide for pri
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could possibly even include informa
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6. Their Discovery of Your Informat
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For a few different takes on these
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as a lawyer. Gometz v. Henman, 807
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Chapter Six: The Legal System and L
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B. LEGAL CITATIONS - HOW TO FIND CO
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that what the writer has written is
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C. LEGAL WRITING Here is where you
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Complaint: The legal document filed
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Jury: A group of people called to h
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Statute of limitations: A law that
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APPENDIX C: Important Constitutiona
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cover letter, briefly introducing y
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United States “without regard to
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You may also want to try writing to
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880 Front Street, Suite 4290 San Di
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Statesboro Division: Bulloch, Candl
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US District Court for the Northern
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399 Federal Building 110 Michigan S
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Buffalo Division: Allegany, Cattara
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U.S. Courthouse 601 Market Street,
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United States District Court for th
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How do I place an order? Complete a
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