Formed in 2007 as a prison abolitionist, anti-authoritarian collective. Write to receive a catalog of anarchist, decolonial, queer liberation, anti-capitalist, black, brown and indigenous-oriented literature (zines), sent free to prisoners in any state. También enviamos literatura gratuita en español.
Black and Pink is a national prison abolitionist organization dedicated to abolishing the criminal punishment system and liberating LGBTQIA2S+ people and people living with HIV/AIDS who are affected by that system through advocacy, support, and organizing. It has 13 volunteer-led chapters, including in Albuquerque, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Missoula, New York City, and Portland OR. Pairs people with pen pals and sends newsletters; new pen pal website at https://blackandpinkpenpals.org. Write for more info and for local chapter information.
Provides women and transgender persons in prison with free reading materials covering a wide range of topics. WPBP also has a free resource guide for women and trans prisoners and a newsletter which publishes prisoner articles. Partners with Black and Pink Minneapolis' pen pal project (see LGBTQ resouce section). Ofrecen materiales de lectura en Español. Only serves women and trans prisoners.
Serves: women’s state prisons in AZ, AL, AR, CA, CT, FL, IL, IN, KY, MS, TN, VT, WA; all women in Federal prisons, and trans women being housed in men’s prisons everywhere.
The Center of Wrongful Convictions Women's Project monitors potential cases of wrongfully convicted women across the country, facilitates the sharing of information about such cases, and educates the public about relevant issues. They consider cases in which the person seeking assistance must be in no way responsible for the crimes of which she was convicted, and the trial must be completed and have resulted in a conviction and sentence.
The National Defense Center for Criminalized Survivors (NDCCS), formerly known as the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women, addresses the unique needs of victims and survivors of gender-based violence who have been criminalized as a result of their experiences of being abused. NDCCS does not provide direct legal representation; it works with defense teams of survivors by providing case-specific technical assistance, resources, and support. NDCCS works nationwide.
The CWCY is the only innocence project in the country that focuses exclusively on individuals who were convicted or accused of crimes when they were adolescents or younger. They are dedicated to identifying, investigating, and litigating credible innocence claims of wrongfully convicted young people and preventing future wrongful convictions.
The Wisconsin Innocence Project (WIP) is a clinic at the University of Wisconsin Law School. WIP reviews cases of actual innocence. Must have at least seven years left of your sentence, and have a significant chance that substantial new evidence may be found to support a claim of innocence. This newly discovered evidence (NDE) could be physical evidence that was not previously subjected to forensic examination, such as DNA testing. NDE may also include non-physical evidence, such as from an eyewitness who was previously unknown or a recantation from a victim, if such a recantation is supported by other new evidence. Serves Wisconsin only.
Solitary Watch works to expose and oppose the use of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and jails. It has temporarily suspended its newsletter for incarcerated members. Solitary Watch also welcomes submissions of writing of up to 1000 words by those currently or formerly serving time in solitary for its Voices from Solitary series, and pays $150 for published pieces. May not respond timely to letters. Serves people nationally.
The Sentencing Project is a national policy research and advocacy organization that works for a fair and effective criminal justice system by promoting sentencing reform and alternatives to incarceration. They produce reports on prison-related topics, including prison populations nationally, state-by-state data, life sentences, voting rights, and more. May not respond to letters.
