Jailhouse Lawyers Speak (JLS) is a national collective of imprisoned persons fighting for human rights by providing other prisoners with access to legal education, resources, and assistance. JLS organizes with organizers across the country inside and outside the prisons.
JLS membership is made up of people in state and federal prison only. Currently JLS members are in 36 states, and growing.
JLS was the organizing force behind the 2018 National Prison Strike, the 2017 Millions for Prisoners March on Washington D.C. and with solid participation in the National Prison Strike of 2016. The National Prison Strikes called for continue to break records as the largest prisoners strike in US history.
JLS membership is made up of people in state and federal prison only. Currently JLS members are in 36 states, and growing.
JLS was the organizing force behind the 2018 National Prison Strike, the 2017 Millions for Prisoners March on Washington D.C. and with solid participation in the National Prison Strike of 2016. The National Prison Strikes called for continue to break records as the largest prisoners strike in US history.
JLS ensures that people inside cages are connected with the world outside, have access to studying materials, and have a voice in the political process. JLS refuses to allow the inside voices to be “trapped off” and denied access to the outside community.
There are several ways you can support our efforts. By donating, fighting for the national prison strike 10 demands, starting an i am We PAN chapter in your area, supporting one of the ongoing projects, and/or encouraging prisoners you know to organize JLS committees at their prisons:
1. JLS International Law Project
JLS and the Mass Incarceration Committee (MIC) of the NLG have established the JLS International Law Project. Using an abolitionist framework, the project alleges international human rights violations by U.S. prisons to international bodies. The Project specifically challenges the use of solitary confinement, poor medical treatment, and forced slave labor as permitted under the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Lawyers and law students that would like to be involved with the work on this project should email micjlsnlg@gmail.com
2. Jailhouse lawyers paralegal sponsorship program
You can now sponsor an indigent jailhouse lawyer Blackstone paralegal course. We will match you with a prisoner for this purpose. If you would like to be a sponsor, send us an email
3. Right 2 Vote campaign
4. JLS4KIDS
5. End of year season greeting card writing to prisoners
6. General Jailhouse Lawyers Speak membership for prisoners nationwide
Please download the JLS General membership zine to mail into people in prisons
7. Behind the Wall
14-30 days free webpage space for indigent people in prison to highlight their cases or prison conditions on our platform. This would give them a wider audience to appeal to for public aid in their struggles.
8. High Risk Youth Mentoring Program
Contact us to get involved
There are several ways you can support our efforts. By donating, fighting for the national prison strike 10 demands, starting an i am We PAN chapter in your area, supporting one of the ongoing projects, and/or encouraging prisoners you know to organize JLS committees at their prisons:
1. JLS International Law Project
JLS and the Mass Incarceration Committee (MIC) of the NLG have established the JLS International Law Project. Using an abolitionist framework, the project alleges international human rights violations by U.S. prisons to international bodies. The Project specifically challenges the use of solitary confinement, poor medical treatment, and forced slave labor as permitted under the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Lawyers and law students that would like to be involved with the work on this project should email micjlsnlg@gmail.com
2. Jailhouse lawyers paralegal sponsorship program
You can now sponsor an indigent jailhouse lawyer Blackstone paralegal course. We will match you with a prisoner for this purpose. If you would like to be a sponsor, send us an email
3. Right 2 Vote campaign
4. JLS4KIDS
5. End of year season greeting card writing to prisoners
6. General Jailhouse Lawyers Speak membership for prisoners nationwide
Please download the JLS General membership zine to mail into people in prisons
7. Behind the Wall
14-30 days free webpage space for indigent people in prison to highlight their cases or prison conditions on our platform. This would give them a wider audience to appeal to for public aid in their struggles.
8. High Risk Youth Mentoring Program
Contact us to get involved