Children of Incarcerated Caregivers is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting the best interests of children when their parents are sentenced to prison or otherwise involved in the criminal justice system. They work to support legal and policy changes and innovative programs based on research to advance the welfare of children.
Parents of Incarcerated Sons and Daughters mission to provide support, resources, encouragement, advocacy & increased community awareness that leads to the holistic restoration of those impacted by incarceration.
Peace of Hope was created to directly support families of the imprisoned as they navigate through the process from beginning to reentry. Peace of Hope, Inc. offers a variety of services such as transportation to and from state prisons, registration assistance. education (classes, counseling, etc.), interpretation and creation of policy, and advocacy for families of the imprisoned. There is also a free "Peace of Hope" downloadable app available in app stores to provide information and other supports.
Case Managers - All incarcerated persons are appointed an onsite case manager who are a first line of contact for loved ones; however, they cannot share private or confidential information. Find someone's case manager by looking up the information on the incarcerated person locator page at: https://coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer/
The Office of the Ombuds for Corrections does not have jurisdiction over Federal Prisons in Minnesota, but you can file your concerns on the Federal Bureau of Prisons Concerns page.
Advocates for Human Rights: The Advocates for Human Rights is the largest provider in the Upper Midwest of free legal services to low-income asylum seekers. Call The Advocates' client line at 612-341-9845. Servicios Legales para Refugiados e Immigrantes: La Línea Nacional de Ayuda de Asilo está diseñada para ayudar a los solicitantes de asilo a encontrar servicios legales gratuitos y abogados de inmigración cerca de su lugar de residencia. Llame al 612-746-4674 de lunes a viernes y de 9 de la mañana a 4 de la tarde.
File a complaint with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Conditions: The Working Group acts on information submitted to its attention regarding alleged cases of arbitrary detention by sending urgent appeals as well as communications under its regular procedure to concerned Governments, in order to clarify and/or bring their attention to these cases. Find more information on their website at https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/detention/pages/complaints.aspx
Find information for someone in immigration detention by calling the American Bar Association (ABA) Detention and LOP Information Line at 202-442-3363. The ABA information line provides pro se assistance, not legal representation. Individuals in detention can call the information line for free by pressing 2150# from inside the detention center.
The National Immigration Detention Hotline is the nation’s largest immigration detention hotline, connecting immigrants in detention to their family, resources, and abuse documentation support at no cost to them. Call: 9233 (from inside detention) Call: 209-757-3733 (from outside).
The Office of the Ombuds for Corrections does not provide legal assistance, advice, or referrals. If you want to seek a remedy through the courts, you may want to seek the advice of an attorney, and we strongly encourage you to exhaust all available Department of Corrections or local facility grievance or appeal processes, doing so may be required to assert your rights in court.
Great North Innocence Project The Great North Innocence Project works to free the wrongfully convicted and prevent future wrongful convictions from occurring in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Find more information about how to submit a case on their website: https://www.greatnorthinnocenceproject.org/submit-a-case. Or write to The Great North Innocence Project, 229 19th Avenue South, Suite 285, Minneapolis, MN 55455
LAMP: Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners The LAMP clinic provides help with all types of legal matters to inmates. LAMP cases range from lawsuits to stop inmate mistreatment to helping an inmate with a divorce to drafting a will. LAMP does not handle appeals for inmates to contest their convictions. Write to LAMP, 875 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105 or call 651-695-7672
Law Help MN Law Help MN can help you get information on free or low-cost places for legal help. It is a project of the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition (MLSC), a group of seven legal aid programs that help low-income residents with a variety of legal matters. State Support manages this website, ProJusticeMN.org for advocates, and MNLegalAdvice.org, a statewide legal advice website.
Law Library Service to Prisoners Librarians visit each prison once per month. In addition, inmates may call the librarians at 651-297-4969 or write to them at LLSP, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul MN 55155. There is no cost for inmates, although there is a limit of 80 pages, or 8 items, per 2 week period per person.
Volunteer Lawyers Network Volunteer Lawyers Network connects people experiencing poverty with trained volunteer lawyers, who provide advice, brief services or representation in court. Call their intake line at 612-752-6677 to connect with an intake counselors who will ask you questions about your case, your income and where you live to determine if we are able to help with your legal issue.
MN Guidebook for Incarcerated Veterans: Reentry resources for veterans, which also includes general community housing and employment resources available to everyone.
