Resources

PARC corresponds with and mails a directory of these resources to prisoners, their friends and family members. We are often the first point of contact for people to connect with prisoners' rights organizations, community organizations, prison literature and arts projects, family and visiting resources, health care and legal resources, parole and pre-release resources, and the prison abolition movement.

Download a PDF copy of the November 2024 Edition here.

Resource Category
Abolitionist Law Center

The ALC is a public interest law firm inspired by the struggle of political and politicized prisoners, and organized for the purpose of abolishing class and race based mass incarceration in the United States. To accomplish this goal, the ALC engages in litigation on behalf of people whose human rights have been violated in prison, produces educational programs to inform the general public about the evils of mass incarceration, and works to develop a mass movement against the American penal system by building alliances and nurturing solidarity across social divisions. Only accepts very select cases, primarily in Pennsylvania.


Legal Resources
AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania

Nonprofit public-interest law firm providing free legal assistance to people living with HIV and AIDS, including PA prisoners. Also has an office in New Jersey at 709 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd., Voorhees Township, NJ, 08043. English and Spanish spoken. Serves Pennsylvania and New Jersey only.


Health Care Resources
Blackstone Career Institute

Blackstone’s accredited Paralegal Certificate Program enables students to learn about the law and the paralegal field by studying at their own pace and at their facility. It can be completed in less than a year and provides information that can be put into practice while incarcerated and once released. No computers, proctors, or facility instructors are required. Soft-covered books and materials are used for ease of entry into most institutions. Their Paralegal certificate program includes the 900 clock hours of coursework needed to sit for the Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) exam and/or the Professional Paralegal (PP) certification, or the Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal (CLA/CP) exam. The enrollment process is initiated by a sponsor on behalf of the student. Currently serves all states.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Books Through Bars

Free books across the Eastern Seaboard. Sends to DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA & VA only.


Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
Common Notions Press

Social justice bookstore offering discounts to folks behind bars on all titles with an emphasis on collective liberation and new decolonial creative works.  This is a collective made up of members of workers collectives, #blacklivesmatter, no border and New Sancturary movements, anticapitalist arts organizations, antiwar actions, climate justice camps and the Palestinian Solidarity Movement.
Discounts are available for folks being bars, on all our titles.


 


Vendors and Publishers
Hearts on a Wire

Hearts on a Wire is a grassroots organization working to address the needs of incarcerated transgender people in Pennsylvania prisons. They are a group of trans and gender variant people building a movement for gender self-determination, racial and economic justice, and an end to policing and imprisoning our communities. Offers a free newsletter to incarcerated and detained people. Write to be added to their mailing list. In your letter asking to be added, please tell us something about your relationship to the trans community. Serves transgender people in Pennsylvania only.


 


LGBTQI-focused Organizations and Resources
Human Rights Coalition

The Human Rights Coalition (HRC) is a network of currently and formerly incarcerated people and their advocates. They are fighting for the abolishment of solitary confinement in Pennsylvania prisons. They also publish the HRC Legal Pamphlet Series, other pamphlets and information letters, and the “PA Prison Directory Action Guide” (2009) (too many pages for them to print & mail, but available for download on their website). The Movement magazine is published quarterly and available online, accepting submissions two pages max. Responds to letters. Serves Pennsylvania only.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Pennsylvania
Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program

Organization supporting education model that brings together campus-based college students with incarcerated students for a class held inside jail or prison. This is a training center for Inside-Out education programs all across the country. it does not directly teach students. Write to find out if there is an Inside-Out program in your state.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Lewisburg Prison Project

The Lewisburg Prison Project (LPP) is affiliated with the PA Institutional Law Project (PILP). Together, we provide informational materials, advice, and representation on civil rights matters related to the conditions of confinement (medical, mental health, excessive force, etc.) of those incarcerated in Pennsylvania. We cannot provide legal advice or representation to those with claims that occur outside of Pennsylvania, and we do not assist with criminal matters, habeas cases, sentencing, or parole issues. Also provides informational materials and legal bulletins about prisoners' rights to people incarcerated throughout the United States. Resources available online, or write in for order form and to submit requests. May not answer phone calls. Legal advice only provided in Pennsylvania; other resources nationwide.


 


Nationwide Organizations and Resources
Pennsylvania Innocence Project

The Pennsylvania Innocence Project only takes on cases from factually innocent individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and exhausted their appeals. The Project takes on cases with or without DNA evidence, and will consider arson, shaken baby syndrome, and child abuse cases. Only serves people convicted in Pennsylvania.


 


Legal Resources, Innocence Projects
Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project

PILP seeks to deliver civil legal services to the institutional population in Pennsylvania, and was created and designed to meet the needs of low income residents of PA prisons, jails, hospitals, and state centers. PILP also publishes (or provides) free copies of the a number of legal publications.  Write for more info. Most resources only for prisoners in Pennsylvania.


Legal Resources
Pennsylvania Prison Society

PPS offers resources to Pennsylvania prisoners in the form of an official visiting program to help people in custody with issues they may be experiencing while in confinement, a free resource program where information requested is sent via mail, and re-entry services, including mentoring, peer support groups and referrals. It also publishes “Graterfriends,” a newsletter published 6 times a year by and for incarcerated people with issues relevant to them ($3.00 for an annual prisoner subscription). Does not provide legal assistance or representation. Serves PA only for visits; newsletter and resource program available to all.


Regional Advocacy Organizations, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Prison Book Project

All-volunteer non-profit organization that sends free educational books and quality reading material to people incarcerated in Pennsyvlania. Pennsylvania only.


Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
Prison Health News

Publishes a newsletter four times a year for people in prison about health issues like COVID-19, hepatitis C, HIV, diabetes, asthma, depression, PTSD, exercise, nutrition and more. Prison Health News strives to lift up the voices and expertise of currently and formerly incarcerated people. On their website, articles on many health topics are available for download. Write to them for a free subscription. If you have health questions, you can write to PHN, who will respond with relevant information. Our website is https://prisonhealth.news/. Serves people nationally.


 


Health Care Resources
Prisoner Visitation and Support

Prisoner Visitation and Support (PVS) is a volunteer visitation program for federal and military prisoners across the U.S., with special priority given to those on death row, in solitary confinement, serving long sentences, or not receiving regular visits. PVS volunteers visit once a month, with no religious or political agenda, to provide a listening ear to those who need one. Limited visiting for Spanish speaking prisoners. Serves federal and military prisoners only. 


 


Nationwide Organizations and Resources