The Jailhouse Lawyer's Handbook

The

Jailhouse Lawyer's Handbook

How to Bring a Federal Lawsuit to Challenge Violations of Your Rights in Prison

Published by the Center for Constitutional Rights and the National Lawyers Guild 5th Edition, 2010

NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

This Handbook is a resource for prisoners who wish to file a federal lawsuit addressing poor conditions in prison or abuse by prison staff. It also contains limited general information about the American legal system. This Handbook is available for free to anyone: prisoners, families, friends, activists, lawyers and others.

We hope that you find this Handbook helpful, and that it provides some aid in protecting your rights behind bars. Know that those of us who do this work from outside prison are humbled by the amazing work so many of you do to protect your rights and dignity while inside. As you work your way through a legal system that is often frustrating and unfair, know that you are not alone in your struggle for justice.

Good luck!

Rachel Meeropol

Ian Head

The Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook, 5th Edition. Revised in 2010. Published by:

The Center for Constitutional Rights 666 Broadway, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10012

The National Lawyers Guild, National Office 132 Nassau Street, Room 922 New York, NY 10038

Available on the internet at:

We would like to thank:

All of the Jailhouse Lawyers who wrote in with comments, recommendations and corrections for the Handbook, all those who have requested and used the Handbook, and who have passed their copy on to others inside prison walls. Special thanks to NLG Jailhouse Lawyer Vice President Mumia Abu-Jamal.

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project for co-writing "Issues of Importance to Transgender Prisoners" in Chapter Two, and The ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project for helpful insights regarding "Issues of Importance for Women Prisoners."

The original writers and editors of the Handbook (formerly the NLG Jailhouse Lawyers Manual), Brian Glick, the Prison Law Collective, the Jailhouse Manual Collective and Angus Love. And special thanks to Alissa Hull and John Boston for significant work on the 2010 edition.

The dozens of volunteers who have come to the NLG offices every week since 2006 to mail Handbooks to prisoners, and to Claire Dailey, Merry Neisner and all the CCR staff, interns and volunteers who put in hours and hours of research, proofreading, cite-checking, and mailing.

Jeff Fogel and Steven Rosenfeld for their work defending the Handbook in Virginia.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This Handbook was written by CCR staff. The information included in the Handbook is not intended as legal advice or representation, and you should not rely upon it as such. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information nor can we guarantee that all the law and rules inside are current, as the law changes frequently.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................1

A. WHAT IS THIS HANDBOOK? ........................................................................... 1 B. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK ..................................................................... 1 C. WHO CAN USE THIS HANDBOOK .................................................................. 2

1. Prisoners in Every State Can Use this Handbook.............................. 2 2. Prisoners in Federal Prison Can Use this Handbook........................ 2 3. Prisoners in City or County Jails Can Use this Handbook................ 3 4. Prisoners in Private Prisons Can Use this Handbook ....................... 3 D. WHY TO TRY AND GET A LAWYER .............................................................. 4 E. A SHORT HISTORY OF SECTION 1983 AND THE STRUGGLE FOR PRISONERS' RIGHTS........................................................... 5 F. THE USES AND LIMITS OF LEGAL ACTION................................................. 6

CHAPTER TWO: YOUR LEGAL OPTIONS ...................................................7

A. SECTION 1983 LAWSUITS ................................................................................ 7 1. Violations of Your Federal Rights...................................................... 7 2. "Under Color of State Law" .............................................................. 8

B. STATE COURT CASES ....................................................................................... 9 C. FEDERAL TORTS CLAIMS ACT (FTCA) ......................................................... 9

1. Who You Can Sue............................................................................. 10 2. Types of Torts ................................................................................... 11

a. NEGLIGENCE ........................................................................................11 b. INTENTIONAL TORTS ............................................................................11 c. FALSE IMPRISONMENT..........................................................................11 d. INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS............................12 3. Administrative Exhaustion ............................................................... 12 4. Damages in FTCA Suits ................................................................... 12 5. The Discretionary Function Exception ............................................ 12 D. BIVENS ACTIONS AND FEDERAL INJUNCTIONS ..................................... 13 1. Who is Acting Under Color of Federal Law? .................................. 13 2. Unconstitutional Acts by Federal Officials ...................................... 14 3. Federal Injunctions .......................................................................... 14 E. PROTECTION OF PRISONERS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW .............. 14 F. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRISON LITIGATION REFORM ACT (PLRA) .............................................................. 15 1. Injunctive Relief................................................................................ 15 2. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies ........................................... 15 3. Mental Emotional Injury .................................................................. 16 4. Attorneys' Fees................................................................................. 16 5. Screening, Dismissal and Waiver of Reply....................................... 16 6. Filing Fees and the Three Strikes Provision .................................... 16

CHAPTER THREE: YOUR RIGHTS IN PRISON.........................................17

A. YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND ASSOCIATION, AND THE TURNER TEST........................... 17 1. Access to Reading Materials ............................................................ 18 2. Free Expressions of Political Beliefs ............................................... 20 3. Limits on Censorship of Mail ........................................................... 21 a. OUTGOING MAIL ..................................................................................21 b. INCOMING MAIL ...................................................................................21 c. LEGAL MAIL.........................................................................................22 4. Access to the Telephone ................................................................... 22

5. Your Right to Receive Visits from Family and Friends and to Maintain Relationships in Prison ................................... 23

a. ACCESS TO VISITS ................................................................................23 b. VISITATION FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND

TRANSGENDER PRISONERS ...................................................................24 c. RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PRISONERS.............................................25 d. CARING FOR YOUR CHILD IN PRISON ...................................................25 B. YOUR RIGHT TO PRACTICE YOUR RELIGION .......................................... 26 1. Free Exercise Clause........................................................................ 26 2. Establishment Clause ....................................................................... 27 3. Fourteenth Amendment Protection of Religion................................ 27 4. Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and Religious Land

Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)...................... 28 5. Cases and Issues............................................................................... 28 C. YOUR RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION ............................... 29 1. Freedom from Racial Discrimination .............................................. 30 2. Freedom from Gender Discrimination............................................. 31

a. THE "SIMILARLY SITUATED" ARGUMENT..............................................32 b. THE EQUAL PROTECTION TEST FOR GENDER DISCRIMINATION .............32 3. Freedom from Other Forms of Discrimination ................................ 33 D. YOUR PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS RIGHTS REGARDING PUNISHMENT .......................................................................... 33 1. Two Important Supreme Court Cases

Govern Due Process Rights for Prisoners................................. 33 2. Transfers and Segregation ............................................................... 34 E. YOUR RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES............................................................................ 35 F. YOUR RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT................................................................................ 36 1. Protection from Physical Brutality................................................... 36 2. Rape, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment ................................. 37

a. OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT VS. UNCONSTITUTIONAL CONDUCT ..............38 b. PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM .......................................................................38 c. CONSENSUAL SEX BETWEEN PRISONERS AND GUARDS .......................39 d. CHALLENGING PRISON SUPERVISORS AND PRISON POLICIES................39 3. Your Right to Decent Conditions in Prison...................................... 39 4. Your Right to Medical Care ............................................................. 41 a. SERIOUS MEDICAL NEED......................................................................42 b. DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE .................................................................42 c. CAUSATION ..........................................................................................43 G. YOUR RIGHT TO USE THE COURTS............................................................. 43 1. The Right to File Papers and Meet with

Lawyers and Legal Workers ...................................................... 44 2. Access to a Law Library................................................................... 45 3. Getting Help from a Jailhouse Lawyer and

Providing Help to Other Prisoners............................................ 45 4. Dealing with Retaliation .................................................................. 46 H. ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO WOMEN PRISONERS.................................. 47 1. Medical Care.................................................................................... 47

a. PROPER CARE FOR WOMEN PRISONERS................................................48 b. MEDICAL NEEDS OF PREGNANT WOMEN .............................................48 2. Your Right to an Abortion in Prison ................................................ 49 a. FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT CLAIM ......................................................49 b. EIGHT AMENDMENT CLAIM..................................................................50 3. Observations and Searches by Male Guards ................................... 51

I. ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO TRANSGENDER PRISONERS .................... 52 1. Classification.................................................................................... 52 a. PLACEMENT IN MALE OR FEMALE FACILITIES......................................52 b. INVOLUNTARY SEGREGATION ..............................................................53 c. ACCESS TO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY.......................................................54 2. Health ............................................................................................... 55 a. ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE ..................................55 b. CONFIDENTIALITY ................................................................................57 3. Free Gender Expression................................................................... 57 a. CLOTHING AND GROOMING..................................................................57 b. NAME AND ID GENDER CHANGES ........................................................59 c. ACCESS TO READING MATERIAL ..........................................................60 d. JOB/PROGRAM DISCRIMINATION ..........................................................60 4. Dealing with Violence and Abuse .................................................... 61 a. VERBAL HARASSMENT .........................................................................61 b. RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ...............................................................61 c. STRIP SEARCHES...................................................................................62

J. ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO PRETRIAL DETAINEES.............................. 62 K. ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO NON-CITIZENS

AND IMMIGRATION DETAINEES ................................................................. 64

CHAPTER FOUR: STRUCTURING YOUR LAWSUIT ...............................67

A. WHAT TO ASK FOR IN YOUR LAWSUIT ..................................................... 67 B. INJUNCTIONS ................................................................................................... 68

1. Preliminary Injunctions and Permanent Injunctions ....................... 68 2. Exhaustion and Injunctions .............................................................. 69 3. Temporary Restraining Orders ........................................................ 69 C. MONEY DAMAGES .......................................................................................... 69 1. The Three Types of Money Damages ............................................... 69 2. Damages Under the PLRA ............................................................... 70 3. Deciding How Much Money to Ask For ........................................... 71 D. WHO YOU CAN SUE ........................................................................................ 71 1. Who to Sue for an Injunction............................................................ 72 2. Who to Sue for Money Damages:

the Problem of "Qualified Immunity" ....................................... 73 3. What Happens to Your Money Damages.......................................... 74 E. SETTLEMENTS ................................................................................................. 74 F. CLASS ACTIONS............................................................................................... 74

CHAPTER FIVE: HOW TO START YOUR LAWSUIT ...............................76

A. WHEN TO FILE YOUR LAWSUIT .................................................................. 76 1. Statute of Limitations........................................................................ 77 2. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies ........................................... 77

B. WHERE TO FILE YOUR LAWSUIT ................................................................ 78 C. HOW TO START YOUR LAWSUIT................................................................. 78

1. Summons and Complaint.................................................................. 79 a. COMPLAINT ..........................................................................................79 b. SUMMONS.............................................................................................84

2. In Forma Pauperis Papers ............................................................... 84 3. Request for Appointment of Counsel ................................................ 87 4. Declarations ..................................................................................... 88 D. HOW TO SERVE YOUR LEGAL PAPERS ...................................................... 89 E. GETTING IMMEDIATE HELP FROM THE COURT...................................... 90 F. SIGNING YOUR PAPERS ................................................................................. 91

CHAPTER 6: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU FILE SUIT .........................92

A. SHORT SUMMARY OF A LAWSUIT.............................................................. 92 B. DISMISSAL BY THE COURT AND WAIVER OF REPLY ............................ 93 C. HOW TO RESPOND TO A MOTION TO

DISMISS YOUR COMPLAINT ......................................................................... 94 D. THE PROBLEM OF MOOTNESS ..................................................................... 95 E. DISCOVERY....................................................................................................... 96

1. Discovery Tools ...................................................................................... 97 2. What You Can See and Ask About .......................................................... 99 3. Privilege.................................................................................................. 99 4. Some Basic Steps ................................................................................... 99 5. Some Practical Considerations............................................................. 100 6. Procedure.............................................................................................. 100 7. Their Discovery of Your Information and Material.............................. 101 F. SUMMARY JUDGMENT ................................................................................ 101 1. The Legal Standard............................................................................... 101 2. Summary Judgment Procedure ............................................................. 103 3. Summary Judgment in Your Favor ....................................................... 103 G. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR COMPLAINT IS DISMISSED OR THE COURT GRANTS DEFENDANTS SUMMARY JUDGMENT ................................................................................ 103 1. Motion to Alter or Amend the Judgment............................................... 104 2. How to Appeal the Decision of the District Court ................................ 104

CHAPTER 7: THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND LEGAL RESEARCH............105

A. THE IMPORTANCE OF PRECEDENT........................................................... 105 1. The Federal Court System .................................................................... 105 2. How Judges Interpret Laws on the Basis of Precedent ........................ 105 3. Statutes.................................................................................................. 107 4. Other Grounds for Court Decisions ..................................................... 107

B. LEGAL CITATIONS ? HOW TO FIND COURT DECISIONS AND OTHER LEGAL MATERIAL ........................................... 107 1. Court Decisions .................................................................................... 107 2. Legislation and Court Rules ................................................................. 110 3. Books and Articles ................................................................................ 110 4. Research Aids ....................................................................................... 111

C. LEGAL WRITING ............................................................................................ 111

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms ........................................................................ 113 Appendix B: Sample Complaint ........................................................................ 119 Appendix C: FTCA Form .................................................................................. 123 Appendix D: More Legal Forms and Information............................................. 125 Appendix E: Constitutional Amendments .......................................................... 126 Appendix F: Excerpts from the PLRA ............................................................... 128 Appendix G: Universal Declaration of Human Rights...................................... 131 Appendix H: Sources of Legal Support ............................................................. 134 Appendix I: Sources of Publicity ....................................................................... 135 Appendix J: Prisoners' Rights Books and Newsletters...................................... 136 Appendix K: Free Book Programs .................................................................... 137 Appendix L: District Court Addresses ............................................................. 138

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

SECTION A

What Is This Handbook?

This Handbook explains how a prisoner can start a lawsuit in federal court, to fight against mistreatment and bad conditions in prison. Because most prisoners are in state prisons, we focus on those. However, people in federal prisons and city or county jails will be able to use the Handbook too.

We, the authors of the Handbook, do not assume that a lawsuit is the only way to challenge abuse in prison or that it is always the best way. We believe that a lawsuit can sometimes be one useful weapon in the struggle to change prisons and the society that makes prisons the way they are.

The Handbook discusses only some of the legal problems which prisoners face ? conditions inside prison and the way you are treated by prison staff. The Handbook does not deal with how you got to prison or how you can get out of prison. It does not explain how to conduct a legal defense against criminal charges or a defense against disciplinary measures for something you supposedly did in prison.

Chapter One: Table of Contents

Section A: What is this Handbook?

Section B: How to Use this Handbook

Section C: Who Can Use this Handbook

Section D: Why to Try and Get a Lawyer

Section E: A Short History of Section 1983 and the Struggle for Prisoner's Rights

Section F: The Uses and Limits of Legal Action

Handbook is mostly about only one kind of legal action: a lawsuit in federal court based on federal law. For prisoners in State prison, this type of lawsuit is known as a "Section 1983" suit. It takes its name from Section 1983 of Title 42 of the United States Code. The U.S. Congress passed Section 1983 to allow people to sue in federal court when a state or local official violates their federal rights. If you are in state prison, you can bring a Section 1983 suit to challenge certain types of poor treatment. Chapter Three of this Handbook explains in detail which kinds of problems you can sue for using Section 1983.

SECTION B

How To Use This Handbook

The Handbook is organized into six chapters and several appendices.

This is Chapter One, which gives you an introduction to the Handbook. Sections C through E of this chapter indicate the limits of this Handbook and explain how to try to get a lawyer. Sections F and G give a short history of Section 1983 and discuss its use and limits in political struggles in and outside prison

Chapter Two discusses the different types of lawsuits available to prisoners and summarizes an important federal law that limits prisoners' access to the courts, called the "Prison Litigation Reform Act."

Chapter Three summarizes many of your Constitutional rights in prison.

Chapter Four explains how to structure your lawsuit, including what kind of relief you can sue for, and who to sue.

Chapter Five gives the basic instructions for starting a federal lawsuit and getting immediate help from the court ? what legal papers to file, when, where and how. It also provides templates and examples of important legal documents.

The Importance of "Section 1983" A prisoner can file several different kinds of cases about conditions and treatment in prison. This

Chapter Six discusses the first things that will happen after you start your suit. It helps you respond to a "motion to dismiss" your suit or a

JAILHOUSE LAWYER'S HANDBOOK ? CHAPTER ONE 1

"motion for summary judgment" against you. It also tells you what to do if prison officials win these motions. It explains how to use "pre-trial discovery" to get information and materials from prison officials.

Chapter Seven gives some basic information about the U.S. legal system. It also explains how to find laws and court decisions in a law library and how to refer to them in legal papers.

The Appendices are additional parts of the Handbook that provide extra information. The appendices to the Handbook provide materials for you to use when you prepare your suit and after you file it. Appendix A contains a glossary of legal terms. Appendix B a sample complaint in a prison case. Appendices C and D contain forms for basic legal papers. You will also find helpful forms and sample papers within Chapters Four and Five. Appendix E gives the text of the first Fifteen Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Appendix F has a few of the important sections of the Prison Litigation Reform Act, and Appendix G includes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Appendices H and I list possible sources of support and publicity ? legal groups, political and civic groups that help prisoners, progressive magazines and newspapers that cover prison issues, and other outlets you can write to. Appendix J lists other legal materials you can read to keep up to date and learn details which are not included in this manual. Appendix K lists free book programs for prisoners, and Appendix L includes a list of addresses of Federal District Courts for your reference.

We strongly recommend that you read the whole handbook before you start trying to file your case.

SECTION C

Who Can Use This Handbook

Most of the prisoners in the Country are in State prison, but prisoners in other sorts of prisons or detention centers can use this book too.

example, a federal court in New York may come to one conclusion about an issue, while a federal court in Tennessee may reach a totally different conclusion about the same issue.

First Steps:

1. Know Your Rights! Ask yourself: have my federal rights been violated? If you have experienced one of the following, the answer may be yes:

Guard or prisoner brutality or harassment Unsafe cell or prison conditions Censorship, or extremely limited mail, phone, or

visit privileges Inadequate medical care Interference with practicing your religion Inadequate food Racial, sexual or ethnic discrimination Placement in the hole without a hearing

2. Exhaust the Prison Grievance System! Use all the steps in the prison complaint or grievance system and write up your concerns in detail. Appeal it all the way and save your paperwork. You MUST do this before filing a suit.

3. Try to Get Help! Consider trying to hire a lawyer or talking to a jailhouse lawyer, and be sure to request a pro se Section 1983 packet from your prison law library or the district court.

States also have their own laws, and their own constitutions. State courts, rather than federal courts, have the last word on what the state constitution means. This means that in some cases, you might have more success in state court than in federal court. You can read more about this possibility in the next chapter.

Unfortunately, we don't have the time or the space to tell you about the differences in the law from state to state. So while using this Handbook, you should also try to check state law using the resources listed in Appendix J. You can also check the books available in your prison and contact the nearest office of the National Lawyers Guild or any other lawyers, law students or political groups you know of that support prisoners' struggles.

1. Prisoners in Every State Can Use This Handbook

Section 1983 provides a way for State Prisoners to assert their rights under the United States Constitution. Every State Prisoner in the country, no matter what state he or she is in, has the same rights. However, different courts interpret these rights differently. For

2. Prisoners in Federal Prison Can Use This Handbook

If you are in federal prison, this Handbook will also be helpful. Federal prisoners have basically the same federal rights as state prisoners. Where things are different for people in federal prison, we have tried to make a note of it for you.

JAILHOUSE LAWYER'S HANDBOOK ? CHAPTER ONE 2

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