Reimagining Access to Justice

The Reimagining Access to Justice project is a collaborative initiative dedicated to making  the Jailhouse Lawyers Manual (JLM) – a vital legal resource used by thousands of incarcerated individuals – more accessible, practical, and impactful. Developed alongside an innovative course at Columbia Law School, this effort brings together law students, formerly incarcerated individuals, advocates, and interdisciplinary experts to improve how legal knowledge is communicated and used in prisons.

Why This Matters

The fate of incarcerated people often depends on their ability to understand, use, and influence the laws that affect their lives in and after prison. The law dictates nearly every aspect of life in prison, from challenging a sentence to securing necessary healthcare, maintaining family relationships, challenging abuses, getting released from incarceration, and obtaining housing, education, and employment upon release. However, most incarcerated individuals lack access to legal representation and must navigate the system on their own or with the assistance of jailhouse lawyers and prison law clerks. 

The Jailhouse Lawyers Manual, published by the Columbia Human Rights Law Review, has long been the most comprehensive and respected resource for providing legal information to people in prison. It includes 41 chapters covering every aspect of law governing the lives of people in prison. It is widely distributed both in New York State and around the country. But the JLM’s reach and impact have been limited by language that many people find inaccessible and hard to use, and by a disconnect between the law on the books (as it is supposed to operate) and law as it actually operates in prisons and jails.  

A New Approach

Through experiential learning and collaboration with people who have firsthand experience with the legal system inside prisons, the Reimagining Access to Justice project is transforming the JLM to be:

Simplifying language and presentation to ensure clarity and usability for incarcerated readers

Incorporating real-world insights from those who have navigated the legal system while incarcerated.

Exploring innovative ways, including digital tools, to expand access and usability of legal information.

A Collaborative Effort

This initiative is supported by the JLM Editorial Boardformerly incarcerated leaders and advocates, and interdisciplinary programs across Columbia University. By bringing together legal scholars, formerly incarcerated leaders, social workers, and technology & design experts, the project is pioneering new ways to pursue full participation and build the capacity of those incarcerated to exercise their legal rights.