Sources of Publicity
The best way to publicize your case is to have a contact, like a family
member or a friend, who is on the outside do the work for you. They will
have much more access to the media, the internet, and communications in
general.
Make sure it is someone you trust, who also has time to dedicate to the
work, and who will be honest about what they can and cannot do. Provide
them with detailed and specific information regarding your case, but
remember to keep any original paperwork you may have. If you decide to
go about publicizing your case
yourself, we have provided a short list of places you can write to,
besides the support organizations already mentioned. Again, when
writing, be specific and focus on what you believe are the main points
of your case. You will also want to always include a cover letter,
briefly introducing yourself and telling the publication why you are
writing them.
Z Magazine
18 Millfield Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543
A progressive, national magazine that is always looking for writing submissions.
Pacifica Radio, National Office
1925 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Progressive radio, often covering stories on prisoners and prison issues.
CounterPunch
PO Box 228, Petrolia, CA 95558
Alternative media magazine, covering issues not addressed by mainstream media.
The Progressive
409 East Main Street, Madison, WI 53703
Excellent leftist magazine.
BlackCommentator.com
157-B Bridgetown Pike #254, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
Weekly internet publication focusing on African-American issues and
radical politics. Best contacted by internet at www.blackcommentator.com
if you have a friend on the outside
Sources of Legal Support
Sources of Legal Support
Below is a list of other organizations working on prison issues, mainly with a legal focus. When writing to these groups, please remember a few things:
Write simply and specifically, but don’t try and write like you think a lawyer would. Be direct in explaining yourself and what you are looking for.
It is best not to send any legal documents unless they are requested. If or when you do send legal documents, only send copies. Hold on to your original paperwork.
Because of rulings like the P.L.R.A. and limited funding, many organizations are small, have limited resources and volunteer staff. It may take some time for them to answer your letters. But always keep writing.
Please note: The contact information for these resources is current as of the printing of this Handbook in 2011.
Do not send money for publications unless you have verified the address of the organization first.
Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers, Inc.
906 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. SW
Atlanta, GA 30310
Information for incarcerated mothers.
American Civil Liberties Union National Office
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004
The biggest civil liberties organization in the country. They have a National Prison Project and a reproductive
Freedom Project, which might be helpful to women prisoners. Write them for information about individual
chapters. See Appendix J for some of their publications for people in prison.
American Friends Service Committee Criminal Justice
Program – National
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia PA, 19102
Human and civil rights issues, research/analysis, women prisoners, prisoner support.
California Prison Focus
1904 Franklin St., Suite 507, Oakland, CA 94612
Publish a quarterly magazine, Prison Focus, and other
publications. Focuses organizing efforts on CA and on
SHU conditions.
Center for Constitutional Rights
666 Broadway, 7th floor, New York, NY 10012
Legal organization that brings impact cases around prison
conditions, co-publisher of this handbook.
Criminal Justice Policy Coalition
15 Barbara St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Involved in policy work around numerous prison issues.
Critical Resistance, National Office
1904 Franklin St., Suite 504, Oakland, CA 94612
Uniting people in prison, former prisoners, and family
members to lead a movement to abolish prisons, policing,
surveillance, and other forms of control.
Family and Corrections Network
32 Oak Grove Road, Palmyra, VA 22963
Federal Resource Center for Children of Prisoners
Child Welfare League of America
1726 M St. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC, 20036
Friends and Families of Incarcerated Persons
PO Box 93601, Las Vegas, NV, 89193
Legal resources for friends and families of prisoners.
Human Rights Watch Prison Project
350 5th Ave. 34th Floor New York NY 10118-3299
National organization dedicated to research, analysis, and
publicizing human rights violations, and working towards
stopping them.
Immigration Equality, Inc. (only for lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, and HIV + immigrants)
40 Exchange Place, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10005
Lambda Legal (only for gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender, & HIV+ people)
120 Wall Street, Suite 1500, New York, NY 10005-3904
English, Spanish
Legal Publications in Spanish, Inc.
Publicaciones Legales en Espanol, Inc.
PO Box 623, Palisades Park, NJ 07650
Legal resources in Spanish, focusing mostly on criminal
defense and federal courts.
Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
1540 Market St., Suite 490, San Francisco, CA 94102
Legal resources and issues around women in prison,
including guides and manuals for people in prison with
children.
National Center for Lesbian Rights (only for gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people)
870 Market St. Ste. 370, San Francisco, CA 94102
English, Spanish
National Clearinghouse for the
Defense of Battered Women
125 South 9th Street #302, Philadelphia PA 19107
Legal and other assistance for battered women.
