These efforts take a variety of approaches to prison justice, from emergency support, for individuals and families, to longer term programs, advocacy, and research. These resources are not necessarily abolitionist in philosophy or practice — but the experiences, the work, and the network of connections overlap. Comments as well as additional listings welcome!

Research

“Punishment Beyond Prison 2023,” millions under probation and parole. Prison Policy Initiative, May 2023.

Organizations and Programs

Advocates for Inmates

National and local resources related to inmate corrections, prisoner rights, and prisoner advocacy. Help and support families of incarcerated prisoners serving time in the US federal and state prison system. Assistance for both the incarcerated, and post-incarcerated men and women. website: https://www.advocatesforinmates.com/

Book Clubs for Inmates

“Book Clubs for Inmates (BCFI) is a registered charity that organizes volunteer-led book clubs within federal penitentiaries across Canada. BCFI is facilitating over 40 book clubs from Nova Scotia to British Columbia.” — website: http://www.bookclubsforinmates.com/what-we-do

Books to Prisoners

“Books To Prisoners is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster a love of reading behind bars, encourage the pursuit of knowledge and self-empowerment, and break the cycle of recidivism.” — website: https://www.bookstoprisoners.net/

Canadian Families and Corrections Network

“CFCN focuses on families, children, and friends who have someone they care about in jail. Our mission is ‘to build stronger and safer communities by assisting families affected by criminal behavior, incarceration, and reintegration.’ Look around our website to see how we help by offering storybooks, information booklets, groundbreaking research, unique programs, and strong policy development to strengthen the family unit and the lives of everyone in it.” — website: https://www.cfcn-rcafd.org/

Court Watch DC

“Courtwatch DC…provides the space and training for the community to observe local court proceedings in the District of Columbia and document our city’s policies in action and to hold judicial actors accountable….Courtwatching is a form of mutual aid…moving towards an abolitionist future. — website: https://www.courtwatchdc.org/

Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments

Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments “was created as an organizing and campaign hub for people directly impacted by the criminal legal system to come together, build a movement, and lead and implement advocacy campaigns to end the impact of a criminal record following people long after incarceration.” — website: https://endpermanentpunishments.org/

Law for Black Lives

“Law For Black Lives is a Black femme-led national network of over 6,000 radical lawyers and legal workers. Our staff is deeply committed to supporting the leadership of directly impacted communities and transforming the legal field to represent the values of movement lawyering, which are centered in building community power and democratizing the law.” — website: http://www.law4blacklives.org/

Matir Asurim: Jewish Care Network for Incarcerated People

Matir Asurim is “an emerging network of community organizers and activists, people directly impacted by incarceration, artists, rabbis, chaplains, healers and dreamers creating Jewish care and providing resources for people who are incarcerated.” The name comes from a blessing for the divine as The One Who “sets free the captives [matir asurim].” website: https://matirasurim.org/

More Than Our Crimes

“More Than Our Crimes seeks to give a voice to the thousands of Americans, mostly people of color, who were once convicted of violent crimes and now have served a decade or more behind bars and deserve a second chance to live freely and contribute to their families and society. Our goal: to assure these individuals are included in the growing wave of reform proposals designed to end mass incarceration.” website: https://morethanourcrimes.org/who-we-are/

Mothers Offering Mutual Support (MOMS)

“Is your loved one involved with the justice and corrections system? How do you help them when you are in shock yourself? Our group members are going or have gone through the same life changing experience.” — website: https://momsottawa.com

National Re-Entry Network for Returning Citizens

“We believe that once incarcerated people have served their time they deserve a second chance to become productive members of society. We help the formerly incarcerated and imprisoned to rebuild and restore their lives through committed advocacy and support.” — website: https://thenationalreentrynetwork.org/

PASAN

“PASAN is a place where prisoners matter. We support and advocate with communities disproportionately affected by incarceration, focusing on prison health, harm reduction, HIV and hepatitis C…[We envision] an end to prisons, health inequities, and the oppressions that drive [these]; Justice, health and healing for communities disproportionately harmed by the prison system.” — website: http://www.pasan.org/

Revive Center for Returning Citizens

“Re-entry is a process not a program..creating pathways to successful re-entry, and who wish to use their stories to empower their population.” website: https://rc4rc.org/about/

The WIRE (Women Involved in Reentry Efforts)

“The Women of the WIRE are members of The National Council of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls (NCIFIWG). The council is a network of women who are national criminal justice reform advocates.” — website: https://thewiredc.org/