5088 Washington St. W
Ste 300
Charleston, WV 25313
1-800-950-5250
Serves: WV
Focus area/description: A private, nonprofit agency mandated by the Federal Government to advocate for and protect the legal rights of West Virginians with disabilities. Disability Rights of WV provides advocacy for incarcerated individuals with disabilities related to mental health and medical care, but does not provide representation for criminal matters. Technical assistance to defense attorneys may be provided upon request of the attorney.
Disability Rights of WV confirmed this listing on July 24, 2023.
The Jailhouse Lawyers Manual is a free guide to legal rights and procedures designed for people in prison. It contains nine sections designed to help incarcerated people learn about their rights, file lawsuits in both state and federal court, attack their conviction or sentence, and address the conditions of their imprisonment. It also contains information about the rights of incarcerated people related to health, safety, religious freedom, and more. We suggest accessing the online version of the manual and mailing the relevant chapters to your incarcerated loved one.
The Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook is a free resource for people in prison who want to file a federal lawsuit addressing poor conditions in prison or abuse by prison staff. This guide will not help challenge convictions or sentences or provide guidance on actions in state courts. It also has 14 appendices that provide sample complaints, legal forms, and guidance on how to reach out to journalists, among other topics. You can download relevant chapters of the handbook and mail them to your incarcerated loved one or request to have a copy mailed to them.