Toolkits, Handbooks, and How To Guides

Ella Baker Center resource for people in California prisons with 5-year enhancements on their current sentence for prior serious felonies, also a general resource for anyone interested in PC § 1170(d)(1)resentencing. 

For people currently incarcerated:

Published by Ella Baker Center for Human Rights

Published by the California Coalition for Women’s Prisoners (CCWP)
4400 Market Street, Oakland, CA  94608

[Español/Spanish] 

Published by the Prison Law Office
General Delivery, San Quentin, CA 94964

Published by the Prison Law Office
General Delivery, San Quentin, CA 94964

[Spanish/Español]

Published by the Prison Law Office
General Delivery, San Quentin, CA 94964

For people organizing against criminalization and mass incarceration:

  • The Abolitionist Toolkit: This kit is designed primarily for U.S.-based community organizations already working towards abolition and our allies.  It is a set of ideas, exercises, and resources to share with people we organize with that would explain the idea of abolishing the PIC and would help us take concrete steps toward that goal.

    Published by Critical Resistance
    1904 Franklin Street, Suite 504
    Oakland, CA 94612
  • Focus on Youth and Families: A guide to conducting focus groups with youth and families impacted by the juvenile justice system.

    Published by Justice for Families
    1913 Azalea Street
    Sulphur LA 70663
  • How to Stop a Jail in Your Town: If you’re wondering whether your county really needs more jail cells – or if you’re already determined that it doesn’t, Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) put together some resources to help you and your neighbors sort through what some of the key issues are, what the policy alternatives to jail expansion are, and what you can do to move your county away from a jail expansion project. 

    Published by Californians United for a Responsible Budget
    1322 Webster #210
    Oakland, CA 94612

Written by INCITE Women of Color Against Violence and Critical Resistance

  • US Detention and Deportation Resources: Sos, I Need Help!: The U.S. detention and deportation system is complicated and confusing. It is easy for immigrants caught up in the system to lose hope. But there are many things you can do to educate and protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community.

    Published by Detention Watch Network
    1419 V Street, NW
    Washington, DC 20009

For people who are locked up in California:

  • Child Custody and Visiting Rights Manual for Incarcerated Parents: This manual is written for incarcerated parents in California prisons and jails who want to have visits with their minor children, but are not getting them.

    Published by Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
    1540 Market St., Suite 490
    San Francisco, CA 94702
  • The California State Prisoners Handbook: The California State Prisoners Handbook is a unique and valuable resource for prisoners, and their attorneys and advocates. The handbook discusses in detail the laws governing prisoner rights and the policies and practices of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Published by Heather MacKay and The Prison Law Office Prison Law 
Office General Delivery 
San Quentin, CA 94964
  • Roadmap to Reentry: A California Legal Resource Guide: A guide designed to be a resource of legal information that people can turn to about issues along the path of reentry. It is comprehensive in scope, covering nine areas of law and civic life: housing, public benefits, parole & probation, education, understanding & cleaning up your criminal record, ID & voting, family & children, court-ordered debt, and employment.

    Published by Root and Rebound
    1730 Franklin St, Suite 300
    Oakland, CA 94612

  • What to Plan for When You Are Pregnant at California Institution for Women: This manual was created for pregnant women currently housed at California Institution for Women. It addresses what to expect from arrival at prison to delivery, and how to create the best possible arrangements for the mother and her baby.

    Published by:
    Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
    1540 Market St., Suite 490
    San Francisco, CA 94702
  • Manual para Madres y Padres Encarcelados: Esta dirigida a varios aspectos de Family Law (Ley de la Familia), incluyendo: Custodia del Niño, Cuidado Adoptivo, Paternidad, Mantenimiento del Niño; incluyendo ejemplos de formularios y cartas.

    Published by:
    Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
    1540 Market St., Suite 490
    San Francisco, CA 94702

  • Prop 47 Bay Area Resource Guide:On November 4, 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47. When this law became effective on November 5, 2014, it reclassified several categories of theft and drug-possession crimes from felonies or “wobblers” (crimes that may be charged as either felonies or misdemeanors) to misdemeanors. The information in this resource guide is intended to help Prop 47-eligible individuals connect with legal assistance in the Bay Area and to make the most of Prop 47 relief. This guide contains resources for San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Marin counties only. Some information, however, will also be helpful to individuals and advocates outside those counties. The information in this guide is based on California law only and is not applicable in other states.

    Published by:
    Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
    1540 Market St., Suite 490
    San Francisco, CA 94702
  • Transportation to Court: Information and forms explaining how to get from state prison/jail to juvenile (dependency) court for a hearing concerning child custody or parental rights.

    Published by:
    Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
    1540 Market St., Suite 490
    San Francisco, CA 94702

For people locked up anywhere in the United States:

PO Box 70447
Oakland, CA, 94612

  • The Jailhouse Lawyer’s Handbook, 5th Edition: This handbook is a resource for prisoners who wish to file a federal lawsuit addressing poor conditions in prison or abuse by prison staff. It also contains limited general information about the American legal system.

Published by:
The Center for Constitutional Rights
666 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10012

The National Lawyers Guild, National Office
132 Nassau Street, Room 922
New York, NY 10038

Published by the TGI Justice Project
370 Turk St #370
San Francisco, CA 94102