http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/PrisonsMain.cfm?ContentStyle=17&CFNoCache=TRUE&num=1000


Going to Prison? -KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!!!:idea:



Prisons - Fact Sheets



Know Your Rights: Disabled Prisoners (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14399&c=123) (11/14/2003)
This fact sheet explains the applicability of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to prisoners.




Know Your Rights: Excessive Heat/Cold in Prison (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14401&c=121) (11/14/2003)


Know Your Rights: Exposure to Environmental Hazards in Prison (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14400&c=121) (11/14/2003)
Prison officials violate the 8th Amendment if, with deliberate indifference, they expose a prisoner to a condition that poses an unreasonable risk of serious damage to that prisoner’s future health. This fact sheet explains prisoners' right to be protected from dangerous conditions and toxic substances.




Know Your Rights: Prisoner Transfers (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14384&c=26) (11/13/2003)
This fact sheet describes the special circumstances in which prisoners may challenge transfers between prisons.




Know Your Rights: Disciplinary Sanctions in Prison (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14386&c=121) (11/13/2003)
Fact sheet on challenging disciplinary sanctions you received while incarcerated.




Know Your Rights: Mail in Prison (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14391&c=26) (11/13/2003)
This fact sheet explains prisoners' right to privileged and non-privileged mail.



Know Your Rights: Prison Law Libraries (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14396&c=26) (11/13/2003)
This fact sheet describes your right of access to courts while in prison.




Know Your Rights: Medical Care for Prisoners (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14377&c=123) (11/13/2003)
Prison officials are obligated under the Eighth Amendment to provide prisoners with adequate medical and mental health care. This fact sheet highlights the case law that protects your medical rights while you are incarcerated.




Know Your Rights: The Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14379&c=26) (11/13/2003)
The Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) makes it harder for prisoners to file lawsuits in federal court. This fact sheet outlines the information you need to know before filing a lawsuit.




Know Your Rights: Visitation in Prisons (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14383&c=26) (11/13/2003)
This fact sheet describes the rights of prisoners and their families when visiting in a correctional setting.
033004 Visiting Days are under attack! (http://www.vip-cali.com/CDCINFO/attack.htm)


Know Your Rights: Smoking in Prison (http://www.aclu.org/Prisons/Prisons.cfm?ID=14385&c=26) (11/13/2003)
This fact sheet describes prisoners' right to smoke and be protected from second-hand smoke.

Tobacco Bill [AB 384] will create more problems (http://www.geocities.com/lwop1981/CDCINFO/ab384.htm)





American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004

Do you know what the rights are as far as being transferred....when the family members are notified where he has been moved to, etc.
Thanks,
Blum

Jus' Mom- Thanks for posting the ACLU fact sheets- a lot of good information there not just for those going to prison but also for those already there.

Thanks. I added the link to my quasi-prison website.

Hi Blum!: Did you want information on 'hardship transfers?', I've got that and will post. Otherwise would you explain what exactly it is you want and I'll either have it to post for you or find it for you! Teri



Thanks DLM!: Yeah I thought it would be good going/or already there also. I just posted what the site said. Made it easier to figure out where to put it that way too!!!! Teri



Great lovesaron!: Glad you find it worth hanging on to! I keep just about everything I find on floppys. Got one for just about every thread on here! Teri

Sorry Blum, I forgot to post the 'hardship transfer' info. Here you go!!! Teri

These were from a forum on different sites. I haven't tried them yet so no guarantees right now..that the info is still good. I don't have the site info., just kept what I needed!



Re: INMATE 'HARDSHIP' TRANSFER INFORMATION


If you want any type of help, you need to write the governor of the state you live in. I am married to a California prison inmate and have written several letters to Gray Davis. They may take a while to respond, but they have responded to every piece of mail I have sent. I have heard prisoners are supposed to be housed within a 2 hour drive from there home, to keep family contact, but it depends on how what level prison there in and if there is an open bunk. Hope this info helps

************************************************** ****


PRU. This is a non-profit group, the Prisoners Rights Union. Write them and ask for Handout #501. (How to Have Your California State Prisoner Moved closer to Home). Also Send them a Money order for $ 5.00 or $10.00 if you want one sent to inmate also.. Their address is Prisoners' Rights Union PO Box 161321-1321 Sacramento Calif. 95826 Phone # is 916-442-2240.. If you call you usually have to leave a message for them to call you back (collect), or try leaving all the info. on message machine. Make sure you give them inmates CDC # if it is being sent to inmate also.. If you are not in Calif. I still think it is a handy phamplet with sample letters and good instructions that would be of help . The list they give you for senators and other interested officials is not accurate and up to date so make sure you have current addresses and senators, etc. The California law (that is often ignored by prison officials until they are pressured) is AB1291. If you are in Calif. I have been told that Senator Burton and Senator Polanco, and Senator Vasconcellos can be helpful. Don't give up when they do not reply to your letters, just follow through with the next step as outlined in phamplet. Be sure to send copies to a wide variety of officials listed, and be polite to prison officials(even when you don't think they are deserving).Good luck


(I'm adding these email address sites below to make it a little easier for you!) Teri

To contact your representatives:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/ (http://www.house.gov/writerep/)






To contact your Governor:
http://www.firstgov.gov/Contact/Governors.shtml

I'm in Texas & my fiance is in Detroit.How can I find out If he would be transfered to Texas.It's fed & he hasn't been sentenced. Also his attorney took money from us, he is a court appointed attorney, can we get the money back?The PSI reported him & and they started an investigation. Now I think we pissed the lawyer off & he won't do everything he can to help Nick.Pleeease What can we do?

thank you for the information

I have been reading a very good book on prisoner rights called Legal Rights of Prisoners: Cases and Comments. The book was written for Criminology students and is from the perspective of those in the corrections profession. The authors are James Anderson and Laronistine Dyson.

This is definitely not light reading but, at the same time, will give its readers very specific case-law concerning nearly any conceivable issue regarding prisoner rights. Because it is from "their" persepective it will give you insight to how the prison system views civil rights issues and trys to limit litigation from prisoners and their families.

My son was arrested and is awaiting a court date in county jail. If convicted he will more than likely do a 18 months prison time. He has hepatitis C and cirohsis. My question is, is the county/state obligated to provide him medical treatment for hepatitis C? The doctors and hospital on the outside have been trying to reach him to arrange treatment. Thanks for your advice.

Hello, Duke. My son is in prison & he has Lupus. We were asked by the court to provide a letter from his doctor describing his illness & stating what med's he takes & in what doses. We did that & the county jail where he was held until he was transfered to State Prison did not give him his med's until I went there & asked them why they weren't. Their response was "what will happen if he doesn't get them?" I told them he would die & they started giving them to him immediately. He has had no such problems in State Prison...he gets his med's just fine. We've been told whatever medication the inmate was receiving on the outside he is entitled to receive inside but you do need a letter or whatever from his doctor. Hope this helps some & good luck to you both.

Hello, Duke. My son is in prison & he has Lupus. We were asked by the court to provide a letter from his doctor describing his illness & stating what med's he takes & in what doses. We did that & the county jail where he was held until he was transfered to State Prison did not give him his med's until I went there & asked them why they weren't. Their response was "what will happen if he doesn't get them?" I told them he would die & they started giving them to him immediately. He has had no such problems in State Prison...he gets his med's just fine. We've been told whatever medication the inmate was receiving on the outside he is entitled to receive inside but you do need a letter or whatever from his doctor. Hope this helps some & good luck to you both.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. My son wasn't taking meds on the outside. I will try to get a note from the doctors that have been trying to reach him. God bless you and your son.

My son was arrested and is awaiting a court date in county jail. If convicted he will more than likely do a 18 months prison time. He has hepatitis C and cirohsis. My question is, is the county/state obligated to provide him medical treatment for hepatitis C? The doctors and hospital on the outside have been trying to reach him to arrange treatment. Thanks for your advice.

My brother just went to Prison for resisting arrest because he cussed a cop out when he got mace and beat.
My brother has hepatitis C and cirohsis also and is very very sick.
He is at Bonne Terre DOC waiting to be shipped out.
They have to try your son if he can prove he has this health problems but the 1 thing we have ran into is some places are not able to handle a person with Hepatitis C or cirohsis.
My brother is getting sicker by the day waiting to be sent to a place that is able to treat him proper for this.
They give him the shots but are not able to proper take care of him for he goes into sezuires afterwards and his blood pressure drops so low.
I have been sending and calling everyone I know to try to find help for my brother and get him sent to the proper place that is able to handle his health problems.
I don't know about your state you are in you might want to check this out now and that way you will know.
Good luck to you and your son.

These are excellent links.

ALso look at ACLU websites BEFORE you are arrested.

Know your rights before you waive them and can't get them back.

abner