Prison Links

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Tonya McClary, National Criminal Justice Representative
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 1-215-241-7130
Fax: 1-215-241-7119
E-mail: tmmclary@afsc.org
Website: www.afsc.org/pdesc/pd129.htm
         Develops compassionate responses to the problems of crime and violence. Working with many groups nationwide to create a system that is not based on prisons, jails, and executions but on the needs of both victims of crime and perpetrators.
      Describes the program, gives latest news, and lists ways of volunteering or contributing to the program. Also provides links to new publications. Does not have much additional information on prison reform.-LEM
      Provides information on the rights of minorities such as bisexuals, homosexuals, immigrants and Native Americans. -KMR

Amnesty International USA (AIU)
322 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 1-212-807-8400
Fax: 1-212-627-1451
Website: www.amnestyusa.org/rightsforall/prison.html
        Monitors human rights in more than 170 countries around the world. Does not rank countries according to their human rights record, but does not excuse the largest or smallest, richest or poorest from their obligation to respect those rights.
        Can be confusing because it has so much information. Has articles on the latest news concerning prison reform and articles on abuses in the punitive system in general. However, much of the information is not up-to-date. -LEM
        This site is offered in both English and Spanish and contains a special youth section for our nation's young to partake in the organization. -KMR

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Anarchist Black Cross (ABC)
PO Box 19733
Austin, TX 78760-9773
E-mail: austin@anarchistblackcross.org
Website: www.anarchistblackcross.org
        Seeks to bring attention to the plight of all prisoners, with an emphasis on Anarchist and class war prisoners. Fundraises on behalf of prisoners or defense committees and organizes demonstrations of solidarity with imprisoned Anarchists and others.
        Focuses on the plight of African-American prisoners. Includes ways of getting involved and organizing a chapter of the ABC. Provides essays, articles and interviews. -LEM
        Learn tips on how to write a letter to a prisoner and what to expect when you do. -KMR

The Benedict Center
135 W. Wells Street, Suite 700
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: 1-414-347-1774
Fax: 1-414-347-0148
E-mail: justice@benedictcenter.com
Website: www.benedictcenter.org
        An interfaith, nonprofit agency working with victims, offenders and the community to achieve a system of criminal justice that is fair and treats every person with dignity. There are many ways for every person who champions human potential, human dignity and human rights to make a difference.
        Provides in-depth descriptions of the organization’s programs. Includes several ways the community can get involved, as well as events. Also has resources for those looking to learn about prison reform. -LEM
        Learn ways to engage your local church in presentations that will encourage prison reform. -KMR

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Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF)
PO Box 3470
Berkeley, CA 94703
Phone: 1-510-655-6169
Fax: 1-510-655-1369
E-mail: bpf@bpf.org
Website: http://www.bpf.org/html/home.html
        Deeply committed to working with prisoners, their families and other persons associated with the prison system to address the systematic violence within the prison-industrial complex.
        Includes downloadable resources and archives and also links to other prison projects. Includes little information on prison reform. -LEM
        It is confusing to find the information about prisons but otherwise provides great information on other human rights concerns. -KMR

Crime Victims for a Just Society
1500 Sandhill Rd.
Mason, MI 48854
Phone: 1-517-349-4752
E-mail: info@crimevictims.net
Website: www.crimevictims.net
        Provides an opportunity for crime victims and others who care to lend their voices and talents to efforts to create a more just society. Goal is to help individuals, families, organizations, and neighborhoods explore creative solutions to the range of crime problems in our communities.
        Provides substantial information but you have to join first. Does not include articles concerning prison reform. -LEM
        I am not fond of the fact that you can't readily access information without becoming a member. -KMR

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Human Rights Watch (HRW)
350 Fifth Ave., 34^th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299
Phone: 1-212-290-4700
Fax: 1-212-736-1300
E-mail: hrwnyc@hrw.org
Website: www.hrw.org/prisons
       Dedicated to ending the abuse of prisoners. Prison massacres, dramatic protests, and violent guard abuse earn occasional news headlines, but the deplorable daily living conditions that are the plight of the great majority of the world's prisoners pass largely unnoticed.
        Plenty of information concerning prison reform, including a listing of prisoner rights, recent news releases and what specific groups are doing to help. Also has a collection of HRW reports. A great website for information. -LEM
        The site provides shocking and graphic images of human rights abuses throughout the U.S. and other troubled countries. The pictures truly take you into the turmoil and let you actually see what you are reading about. -KMR

Justice Works Community
1012 Eighth Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: 1-718-499-6704
E-mail: info@justiceworks.org
Website: www.hrw.org/prisons
Educates, organizes and mobilizes a national partnership of religious and secular grassroots groups that advocate for just and humane criminal justice policies for women.
Shows several ways you can get involved. Includes fact sheets and other useful links. Printable petition for bettering conditions for women in prison. -LEM

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National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA)
7222 Ambassador Road
Baltimore, MD 21244
Phone: 410-265-1490
Fax: 410-597-9656
Website: www.igc.org/ncia
        Helps create a society in which all persons who come into contact with the human service or correctional systems will be provided an environment of individual care, concern and treatment. Dedicated to developing quality programs and professional services that advocate timely intervention and unconditional care.
        Has publications on several areas of prison reform, including youth and adult issues. Some free, others for purchase. Also describes services it provides and the results of their services. Very clear and easily accessible. -LEM
        Has listings of possible mental health clinics and educational institutions for those with previous correctional experience. -KMR

Pennsylvania Prison Society
245 N. Broad Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 1-800-227-2307
Fax: 1-215-564-7926
E-mail: geninfo@prisonsociety.org
Website: www.prisonsociety.org
        Advocates for a humane, just and restorative correctional system and promotes a rational approach to criminal justice issues. Recognizes that constructive corrections help to repair the damages of crime on victims and communities.
        Briefly describes program and services for members. Provides a forum with recent news links and legislative updates. -LEM
        Provides information about incarcerated women with children and how you can help their unfortunate families. -KMR

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Prison Activist Resource Center (PARC)
PO Box 70447
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 1-510-893-4648
Fax: 1-510-893-4607
E-mail: Parc@prisonactivist.org
Website: www.prisonactivist.org
        Provides support for educators, activists, prisoners and their families. Work includes building networks for action and producing materials that expose human rights violations. Also challenges the rapid expansion of the prison industrial complex.
        Deals with many issues of prison reform such as the death penalty, medical neglect, and alternatives to prisons. Includes recent articles and press releases as well as ways the community can get involved. I recommend this website. -LEM
        Participate in this website's forum and talk to others about the rights and abuses of those in prison. -KMR

Prison Reform Advocacy Center (PRAC)
617 Vine Street, Suite 1428
Cincinnati, OH 45202-2416
Phone: 1-513-421-1108
Fax: 1-513-421-3200
E-mail: contact@prisonreform.com
Website: www.prisonreform.com
        Dedicated to progressive prison reform. Designed to help inmates secure their civil rights; does not do criminal defense work.
       Provides extensive information on its projects, lists of prison reform organizations, suggested reading, and critical facts about the nation’s prisons. However, focus is mainly on Ohio’s need for prison reform, rather than on the national need. -LEM
        Sign up for PRAC's informative newsletter. -KMR

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Prison Smart Foundation
Thomas Duffy
Executive Program Director
PO Box 3642
Boulder, CO 80307
E-mail: TomDuffy@PrisonSMART.org
Website: www.prisonsmart.org
       Sponsors and facilitates a stress management and rehabilitative training program for inmates, residents of halfway houses and those on parole and probation, as well as at-risk youth, victims of crime, law enforcement officers and probation staff.
       Outlines current projects and course content. Includes excerpts of participants' experiences and research on the results of their efforts. -LEM
        This site is under construction as of 8/11/05. -KMR

Stop Prisoner Rape
3325 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 340
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: 1-213-384-1400
Fax: 1-213-384-1411
E-mail: info@justdetention.org
Website: www.justdetention.org
        A small nonprofit organization dedicated to combating the widespread rape of male and female prisoners and helping survivors of jailhouse rape. Provides education, information and advocacy regarding all forms of sexual abuse taking place in the prison system.
        Provides rare information regarding sexual violence in jail. Describes prison rape through prisoners' stories. Statistics and press releases provided. Website is so graphic, SPR was recently taken to court for its content. -LEM
        This is a truly shocking website with unbelievable testimonials. Extremely direct, this site offers no skews or twists of words. These are real stories told by the real people who lived them. -KM

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The Western Prison Project (WPP)
825 NE 20th Avenue. #250
Portland, OR 97232
Phone: 1-503-335-8449
Fax: 1-503-232-1922
E-mail: info@westernprisonproject.org
Website: www.westernprisonproject.org
        Exists to create progressive reform of the prison and criminal justice systems, leading to mass deincarceration, community-based alternatives to incarceration, and social and economic justice for communities disproportionately targeted by the criminal justice system. Works within a seven state region of the West: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada.
        Includes the organization’s newsletter and free publications. Also provides prison-related info for each of the seven states the organization deals with. One must join to become involved in the WPP. -LEM
        Emphasizes the disproportionate punishments within the system and presses individuals to increase their awareness. -KMR

Policy and Advocacy - Death Penalty

Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP)
PMB 335
2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy
Gainesville, FL 32609
Phone: 1-800-973-6548
E-mail: cuadp@cuadp.org
Website: www.cuadp.org
        Works to end the death penalty in the United States through aggressive campaigns of public education and tactical grassroots activism. Two areas of focus:1) invigorated education about viable alternatives to the death penalty 2) strategic and tactical grassroots activism.
        Tells stories of wrongful executions and imprisonment. Lists other useful resources and an event calendar so that people can get involved. -LEM
        Offers volunteer and donation opportunities. -KMR

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National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
1705 DeSales St. NW, 5th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: (202) 331-4090
E-mail: kjones@ncadp.org
Website: www.ncadp.org
       A coalition of organizations and individuals committed to the abolition of capital punishment. Provides information on this issue, advocates for public policy and mobilizes and supports people and institutions that share rejection of the state’s use of homicide as an instrument of public policy.
       Provides project goals, facts, statistics and recent press releases. Describes ways to become involved. Well organized. -LEM
        The site provides a news archive in both English and Spanish. -KMR

Families of Prisoners (including CHILDREN)

Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)
1612 K St., NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 1-202-822-6700
Fax: 1-202-822-6704
Website: www.famm.org
        Works nationwide to challenge inflexible and excessive penalties required by mandatory sentencing laws. Promotes sentencing policies that give judges the discretion to distinguish between defendants and sentence them according to their role in the offense, seriousness of the offense and potential for rehabilitation.
        Plenty of information on prison reform. Includes press releases and a history of prison reform. -LEM
        Offers workshops and speakers to teachers, college students, kids, and parents in order to increase awareness of the distress experienced by families with loved ones in prison. -KMR

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Jewish Prisoner Services International
PO Box 85840
Seattle, WA 98145-1840
Phone: 1-206-985-0577
Fax: 1-206-985-0479
Emergency Collect Phone: 206-528-0363
E-mail: jewishprisonerservices@msn.com
Website: www.jewishprisonerservices.org
Strives to fulfill the Talmudic obligation of all Jews to be responsible for each other, along with other religious mandates of our faith. Insures that Jewish prisoners are permitted to practice their faith by providing advocacy and religious materials. Limited to Jewish prisoners and their families.
Encourages pen-pals throughout the Jewish prisoner community. Provides news and articles related to Jews in prison. Also includes ways that you can help, such as donating new or used religious materials. -LEM

Reintegration of Prisoners (Work, Housing, Support)

Books Through Bars
4722 Baltimore Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19143
Phone: 1-215-727-8170
E-mail: info@booksthrougbbars.org
Website: www.booksthroughbars.org
       Sends quality reading material to prisoners and encourages creative dialogue on the criminal justice system, thereby educating those living inside and outside of prison walls.
       History of the organization, links to other organizations working with prisoners, details on donating and requesting books, and contact information for many similar programs in the USA and Canada. -JKL
        The organization clearly explains how the book donating process is managed. -KMR

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Center for Community Alternatives (CCA)
39 West 19^th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 1-212-691-1911
Fax: 1-212-675-0825
E-mail: cca@communityalternatives.org
Website: www.communityalternatives.org/
        Develops effective alternatives to incarceration and fosters a more responsive juvenile and criminal justice system in order to help youth and adults live more productive and safer lives.
        Gives suggestions on alternative activities such as after-school programs instead of television to improve youths’ lives. Also provides court service programs and ways that the community can become involved. -LEM
        Donate CD's, books, clothing, and equipment to the organization's youth programs. -KMR

Fortune Society
29-76 Northern Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101
Phone: 1-212-691-7554
Fax: 1-212-255-4948
E-mail: sherbert@fortunesociety.org
Website: www.fortunesociety.org
        Staffed primarily by ex-offenders. A community-based organization dedicated to educating the public about prisons, criminal justice issues, and the root causes of crime. Also helps ex-offenders and at-risk youth break the cycle of crime and incarceration through a broad range of services.
        Includes recent issues of Fortune News with breaking criminal justice news. Has books and art that can be purchased. Not a very informative website. -LEM
        Offers recently released convicts an opportunity to reform their lives, establish stable lifestyles and contribute positively to society. -KMR

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Human Kindness Foundation (HKF)
PO Box 61619
Durham, NC 27715
Phone: 1-919-383-5160
Website: www.humankindness.org
        Inspires and encourages prisoners and prison staff to recognize their depth as human beings and to behave accordingly. Prisoners have the opportunity to dedicate themselves to this inward journey without the distractions and luxuries that occupy many people in the "free world."
        Subscribe to free newsletter. Provides recent articles and publications. Includes inspirational quotes to read each morning. A fulfilling website. -LEM
        Order spiritual ornaments to calm and distract from the malice of the world. -KMR

Palladia (formerly known as Project Return)
10 Astor Place, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Phone: 1-212-979-8800
Fax: 1-212-979-0100
E-mail: info@palladiainc.org
Website: www.palladiainc.org
        Programs and services are proven to help individuals and families whose problems stem from substance abuse, homelessness, HIV disease, mental illness, criminality and/or domestic violence. Offers a wide range of services along a continuum of care - from outreach, prevention and treatment through supportive, permanent housing.
        Provides recent press releases and ways to donate or volunteer. Does not include information about prisons or prisoner reform. However, its services seem very promising. -LEM
        View artwork done by victims of mental illness and prisoners.-KMR

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Prison Dharma Network (PDN)
PO Box 4623
Boulder, CO 80306
Phone: 1-303-544-5923
E-mail: pdn@indra.com
Website: www.prisondharmanetwork.org
       A nonsectarian Buddhist support network for prisoners, prison volunteers, and correctional workers. Supports prisoners in the practice of contemplative disciplines, with emphasis on the meditation practices of the various Buddhist traditions. Also supports prisoners in the practice and study of the Buddhist teachings and promotes the Buddhist path of wakefulness and non-aggression as an ideal means of self-rehabilitation and transformation.
       Many ways to get involved. Has recent publications concerning only the Buddhist community. Books for sale are advertised. -LEM
     Programs within the organization include a book mailing project and Peacemaker training. -KMR

Prison Fellowship International (PFI)
44180 Riverside Parkway
Lansdowne, VA 20176
Phone: 1-877-478-0100
E-mail: bcool@pfm.org
Website: www.prisonfellowship.org
      A Christian ministry responding to the needs of prisoners, ex-prisoners, victims and those affected by crime. Purpose is to work through the Christian community to mobilize outreach and ministry in response to the needs of prisoners, ex prisoners, victims, and their families.
     Provides ways to get involved in prison reform, recent publications, and updated statistics. A well-organized website. -LEM
     I agree; very well organized site. Offers many ways to get involved including volunteering, praying, donating, planned giving, becoming a penpal, and subscribing to Jubilee online. -KMR

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Providence House
703 Lexington Avenue
PO Box 210529
Brooklyn, NY 11221
Phone: 1-718-455-0197
Fax: 1-718-455-0692
E-mail: provhous@eudoramail.com
Website: www.providencehouse.org
A community-based residential program for women who are on NYS parole and cannot return to their places of residence after their release from prison. Offers housing in locations throughout NYC and nearby areas.
Discusses the organization's projects in detail, but gives no further information on prison or prisoner reform. -LEM

Surviving the System
PO Box 1860
Ridgeland, MS 39158
Phone: 1-601-898-8331
E-mail: tlister@survivingthesystem.com
Website: www.survivingthesystem.com
       Built from a network of concerned citizens who realize that inmates are human, too. Find ideas for rehabilitation, reform, prevention, education and recovery programs, prison-related issues, links to useful sites, letters from the those on the inside, messages of hope and unity, and ideas for positive change in our current faltering system.
     Tells inmates’ stories of what life in prison is like. Includes inspirational poetry and quotes. Also has a newsletter and extensive information on prison-related topics, such as sexuality in prison and drug prevention advice. -LEM
     Become a member and help to petition for social and prison reform for both adults and youth. -KMR

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