Online and Other Resources for Volunteers

Before spending your time on answering a reference question, it is a good idea to check that the author of the letter is still incarcerated.
You can look an inmate up by name or DIN on New York State's Inmate Population Information Search.

This type of search is available for other state prison systems, and some county jails as well.

Inmates frequently ask for advice on obtaining employment despite having a record. This is addressed in Connections, but there are
other resources that also touch on this subject. For instance, the U.S. Department of Labor in 2005 issued a 60 page document entitled
Employment Information Handbook for Ex-Offenders, which contains some extremely helpful and practical
information.

The Center for Employment Opportunities is an organization with headquarters in NYC that works to
place the formerly incarcerated in employment positions.

The National H.I.R.E Network was established by the Legal Action Center, and functions as both an aggregate of resources
for ex-inmates and as an advocacy program.

Reentry.net is another very useful site. It has a Research and Policy Library with links to materials on recidivism,
alternatives to incarceration, finding a lawyer, and policy reform, among other topics.

The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) has a program called Step (Skills Training & Employment Project) that provides job hunting
resources such as résumé writing and practice exams, including the GRE and various civil service exams, via the Learning Express Library.
Civil service exams in particular are frequently inquired about. The monthly civil service exam schedule can be found at NYC.gov.

The BPL also has a website with job hunting resources, in addition to some brochures that can be downloaded:
---Job Hunting
---Free Services & Programs for Ex-Offenders
---GED Test Preparation

Another common request is for a Letter of Reasonable Assurance. Inmates may request one of these via the Fortune Society,
an organization that provides social services to ex-offenders in NYC.

In addition, many inmates are interested in pursuing an education while incarcerated. The Brooklyn Public Library has a brochure that has some
helpful resources, entitled Internet Resources: COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES. There is also a book called the
Prisoner's Guerrilla Handbook to Correspondence Programs In the United States and Canada, available from Prison Legal News
for about $50. This book was written by Jon Marc Taylor, who completed a Bachelor's and Master's degree, and a doctorate while incarcerated.

NB: The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which Bill Clinton signed into law in 1994, bans federal prisoners from receiving
Pell Grants. The Education from the Inside Out Coalition is an organization that is advocating for the reversal of this ban. Their policy brief
can be read here.

We frequently receive requests for information on starting a business. NYC.gov has an entire website devoted to this, with a wealth of information
on financing, obtaining permits, and more. In addition to all of the resources on their website, NYC Business Solutions has offices throughout
the city where business owners can go for assistance. NYC Business Express has information on applying for permits, licenses, and certifications.
In particular, there is a certification program for minority and women-owned businesses.

There are many websites that host the profiles of inmates, allowing them to find pen pals. Unfortunately, almost all of these sites charge a fee to the inmate
(and not to those who sign up to initiate contact with inmates).

Lost Vault is free for inmates. There is an application form that can be downloaded, printed, and sent to any inmate who requests
a pen pal. They will need to forward this paper form to a friend or family member, who can post the ad for them and monitor the account.
If the inmate has no one to do this for them, Lost Vault will place the ad themselves for a $5 fee.

IMPORTANT: Lost Vault is currently on hiatus and is temporarily not taking any new ads. See here for an explanation.

Christian Pen Pals is also free for inmates. There is an online registration form as well as a paper form that can be mailed in.

Correctional Services cannot provide legal advice, but we regularly receive letters from inmates asking for such. The organizations listed below
are much better equipped to handle these sorts of requests.

LawHelp.org is a website with links to free legal resources for those who are low-income, searchable by state. This can especially helpful when
we receive letters from inmates in other state prison systems.

The Legal Aid Society has Criminal, Civil, Juvenile, and Pro Bono practices, as well as a Self-Help Guide with information on housing,
education, domestic violence, and more. They also have a fact sheet that lists each of their services in more detail, and includes a mailing address:

The Legal Aid Society
199 Water Street
New York, NY 10038
212-577-3300

The Legal Action Center is a non-profit legal organization that fights against discrimination against individuals with drug problems,
HIV/AIDS, or a criminal history, by providing legal services and by advocating for better public policies. They also have an FAQ page that can be used
to quickly determine whether or not they would be a good referral for an inmate. Their contact information is:

Legal Action Center
225 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014
Phone # (212) 243-1313
toll free 1-800-223-4044
Fax # (212) 675-0286
E-Mail: lacinfo@lac.org

or:

Legal Action Center
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Suite 505
Washington, D.C. 20002-4980
Phone # (202) 544-5478
Fax # (202) 544-5712
E-Mail: lacdc@lac.org

We sometimes get requests for cases in which DNA evidence was used to exonerate the wrongfully convicted. The Innocence Project
is an excellent source of information on this topic, and they have many cases on which they've worked listed on their website.

We also get questions about how to represent oneself in court, i.e. pro se. We cannot offer any advice on pro se litigation, however, there are many resources,
available that we can provide to inmates. For example, the United States District Court, Southern District of New York,
like most other states, maintains a site with instructions for pro se litigants, with a disclaimer that the information provided is not a substitute for an attorney's
advice. Included on the site is information on what it means to represent pro se, which forms to use, how to submit them, and more. Inmates may want to
contact the Pro Se office themselves at:

United States District Court of the Southern District of New York
Pro Se Office
Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse
500 Pearl Street, Room 230
New York, New York 10007
(212) 805-0175

NB: No appointment is needed to speak with a representative of the Pro Se Office.

We receive many requests on how to become a writer and/or how to get published. PEN American Center produces the
Handbook for Writers in Prison, which can be downloaded in pdf format. Currently incarcerated individuals are eligible for a free copy,
which can be ordered online.

This website is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it is written by Thomas Christensen, an editor, and it provides excellent insight
into print publishing.

The Literary MarketPlace is an online directory of publishers and agents in the United States, Canada, and abroad. In order to
search the site, it necessary to register an account.

Inmates frequently request personal copies of books that NYPL is unable to provide. Inmates should instead be directed to
Books Through Bars, an organization that provides books to prisoners all over the country. The NYC chapter
can be reached at:

Books Through Bars-NYC
c/o Bluestockings Bookstore
172 Allen Street
New York, NY 10002

Several other NYS counties produce publications similar to NYPL’s Connections. You will find these listed on the first few pages of
Connections.