Michael Ravnitzky pulls back the curtain on a little known but extensive (his findings date back to 1915) and continuously updated source of topical comparative and international law reports, on subjects of public interest, produced each year by experts within the Library of Congress.
This month Jan Bissett and Margi Heinen offer tips for finding Bar exam results, exam schedules, and reciprocity, and also provide links to relevant court, association, government and legal newspaper websites.
The Government Domain
Information Checks and Balances
By Peggy Garvin
Peggy Garvin of Garvin Information Consulting is author of The United States Government Internet Manual (Bernan Press) and Real World Research Skills (TheCapitol.Net).
Beth Wellington is a Roanoke, Virginia based poet and journalist. She is a contributing editor to the New River Free Press, a book reviewer for the Roanoke Times and a member of the Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative (SAWC) and the Appalachian Studies Association. From 1980 to 1997, she was the founding Executive Director of New River Community Sentencing, Inc. in Christiansburg, Virginia and its predecessor, New River Community Action’s Community Sentencing Program. She contributes to both SourceWatch.org and Wikipedia.org. Beth’s blog on culture and politics is The Writing Corner. Commentary: Previously Unreleased FCC Reports on TV Localism Raise Questions About Media Diversity
By Beth Wellington
Small Content, Long Tails, and Big Ideas in Law Libraries
by Jason Eiseman
Jason Eiseman (MLS) is the Computer Automation Librarian at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt in Portland, Oregon.
Criminal Justice Resources Prisoners’ Rights and Resources on the Web By Ken Strutin
Ken Strutin (JD, MLS) is an experienced law librarian, criminal defense attorney, and well-known writer and speaker. He is the author of The Insider’s Guide: Criminal Justice Resources on the Internet, and has lectured extensively about the benefits of using the Internet for legal research at national and local CLE training programs. Mr. Strutin also wrote ALI-ABA’s Practice Checklist Manual on Representing Criminal Defendants, and co-authored the award winning Legal Research Methodology computer tutorial, published by the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI). He has contributed chapters to several books and written many articles concerning knowledge management, legal research and criminal law. Mr. Strutin has taught courses in Advanced Legal Research and Law Office Management. He is also listed in Who’s Who in American Law. Currently, Mr. Strutin is the Director of Legal Information Services at the New York State Defenders Association and writes a column for the New York Law Journal.
Published August 15, 2006
Introduction
This guide highlights resources about prisons, the people who occupy them, legal and social services for inmates and their families, issues related to incarceration and reentry, and human rights behind bars. The focus is on selected web resources and online publications.
Commissions Legal Services Physical Health Statistics Conditions of Confinement Library Services Policy Research Support Services Education Mental Health Prisoners’ Rights Voting Rights Guides and Manuals News and Periodicals Prisons Women Inmate and Prison Locators Organizations Reentry Bibliographies and Research Guides Law School Clinics Parole Standards
National commissions have been created to investigate conditions and facilitate legislation aimed at reforming the prison system. And many states and local governments have established agencies to oversee their correctional facilities, and issue reports about their operations. More information on the national level can be found under Conditions of Confinement.
National Commissions
Selected State Commissions
The Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons conducted a national examination of the violence, sexual abuse, degradation, and other abuses occurring in prisons and jails across the country. Four public hearings were held over the course of a year. In 2006, they issued their final report, Confronting Confinement, with recommendations for improving and reforming the prison system, which included standardized reporting of violence and abuse, reinvestment in violence prevention programs, and expanding Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement to cover correctional facilities. The Commission was staffed and funded by the Vera Institute of Justice.
In addition to the work of the Commission, the following organizations have been monitoring and studying prison conditions in the United States, and around the world:
The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA), 42 USC § 15601, et seq., gave rise to the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission. The Commission website makes accessible testimony taken at ongoing hearings along with updates about their work. The following sites provide resources on PREA and its implementation:
National Institute of Corrections
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Related Resources
Prison societies and academic institutions devote resources to prison education through distribution of books and supporting course materials.
Here are several excellent publications that provide information on legal research, inmate rights, pro se litigation, and resources for prisoners and ex-offenders.
The federal government posts a list of its facilities, and a locator to find particular inmates. Most states offer similar resources for their prisons and some jails. In addition to these directories, an individual state or county’s facilities can be found by searching the local government’s website or one of the national lists below for the appropriate department of corrections.
Many law schools have created clinics to provide representation for incarcerated persons who need assistance in post-conviction matters and prison-related cases.
Law School Clinics Serving Prisoners (AALL 2004)
These are directories and sites that provide information about legal services for prisoners and information on self-representation.
The resources from national library organizations and others provide information on the issues related to serving this special population.
The appropriate treatment of inmates with mental health issues has been the subject of much study and debate. This is a small selection of recently published materials and resources.
Stories about prison conditions and developments in the law affecting prisoners’ rights can be found in these specialized sources. Notably, there are some standout publications, such as the monthly magazine Prison Legal News, which provides excellent comprehensive coverage and analysis of prison issues. Their website includes a rich collection of resources and an extensive list of research links.
News
Corrections Community Blog (National Institute of Corrections)
Corrections News & Features (Officer.com)
Corrections Today (American Correctional Association
Jail and Prisoner Law Bulletin (AELE Law Enforcement Legal Center
Prisons (Yahoo News) (NCSC)
Law Reviews
Annual Review of Criminal Procedure [Prisoners’ Rights] (Georgetown University Law Center)
Columbia Human Rights Law Review (Columbia University School of Law)
New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement (New England School of Law)
Periodicals
Correct Care (National Commission on Correctional Health Care)
Journal of Correctional Health Care (National Commission on Correctional Health Care)
Prison Journal (Pennsylvania Prison Society)
<Table of Contents> Organizations
There is a broad spectrum of private, academic and governmental organizations concerned with the state of US prisons and the operation of the prison system. Many of them publish reports and studies on issues vital to prisoners’ rights and prison reform.
Here are some general sites concerning parole administration, more information can be found in the Reentry section.
Health issues for people behind bars are a serious concern and have an impact on society at large. Here are a few national resources on this topic.
Many private, academic and governmental groups engage in research on prison and sentencing reform. They often conduct original research on the conditions of confinement or develop strategies to respond to current problems, such as overcrowding.
Much of the literature and resources on prisoners’ rights have already been noted under other categories.
These sources concentrate on the unique concerns of prisons and correctional facilities related to placement, administration, and economics.
More than 600,000 former ex-offenders are in the process of reentering society. And governmental and private entities are beginning to provide much needed services to ease the transition and promote reintegration.
National and state standards exist for the administration and operation of prison and jail facilities.
National Standards
Jail Standards and Inspections (National Institute of Corrections)
Standards & Accreditation (American Correctional Association)
Selected State Standards
Criminal justice agencies, academic and some private organizations collect statistical information on prison populations, services and special issues.
Corrections Statistics (US Bureau of Justice Statistics)
Juveniles in Corrections (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)
State Corrections Statistics (National Institute of Corrections)
Many organizations exist that provide a variety of basic services to inmates and their families.
Nation Prisoner Resource List (Prison Book Program)
Prison Resource Directory (Prisonet)
Prisoner Support Directory (Prison Activist Resource Center)
Prisoner Support Directory (Western Prison Project)
Serving Families of Adult Offenders: Directory of Programs (National Institute of Corrections 2002)
The right to vote for persons behind bars has become the focus of studies, policy discussions and litigation nationwide.
Barred for Life: Voting Rights Restoration in Permanent Disenfranchisement States (Sentencing Project 2005)
Felon Disenfranchisement (Prison Policy Initiative)
Felon Disenfranchisement (NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund)
Felon Voting (Dr. Christopher Uggen, University of Minnesota)
Legislative Changes on Felony Disenfranchisement 1996-2003 (Sentencing Project 2003)
Several organizations have devoted significant resources to the special issues facing women behind bars.
Resource List for Women in Prison (Chicago Books to Women in Prison)
Women in Prison (ACLU National Prison Project)
Bibliographies and Research Guides
Here are some extensive bibliographies, pathfinders, and collections of resources on prison related topics.
Jail & Prisoner Law Resources (AELE Law Enforcement Legal Center)
Prison & Corrections-Related Mega-Links (Dr. Thomas O’Connor, Austin Peay State University)
Prisoner Rights & Resources (Findlaw)
Resources for Legal Research: Prisoners’ Rights (Pace Law School)
Writing Justice Blackmun
American Association of Law Libraries, St. Louis, July 9, 2006
by Linda Greenhouse
Beth Wellington is a Roanoke, Virginia based poet and journalist. She is a contributing editor to the New River Free Press, a book reviewer for the Roanoke Times and a member of the Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative (SAWC) and the Appalachian Studies Association. From 1980 to 1997, she was the founding Executive Director of New River Community Sentencing, Inc. in Christiansburg, Virginia and its predecessor, New River Community Action’s Community Sentencing Program. She contributes to both SourceWatch.org and Wikipedia.org. Beth’s blog on culture and politics is The Writing Corner. Commentary: Who Really Benefits From the Death Tax
By Beth Wellington
The Government Domain
Summer Infosnacks
By Peggy Garvin
Peggy Garvin of Garvin Information Consulting is author of The United States Government Internet Manual (Bernan Press) and Real World Research Skills (TheCapitol.Net).