This resource guide has information and contacts regarding legal services, innocence or wrongful convictions claims, attorney referrals, and more.
The information provided below does not constitute legal representation or advice nor is it an endorsement of the services provided by any of the organizations mentioned below.
The ACLU protects, defends, strengthens, and promotes the constitutional rights and liberties of all people in Florida through systemic litigation and other strategies. Individuals who are incarcerated may write to them:
ACLU of Florida
4343 W. Flagler St. Suite 400
Miami, FL 33134
Family members may learn more about the ACLU’s work and contact them online: www.ACLUFL.org
FDC’s Office of Citizens Services assists family members of individuals who are incarcerated in Florida’s Department of Corrections (state prisons). Their role is to provide open communication between the public and FDC. The office assists with locating and verifying information as well as assisting with inquiries related to FDC. Family members may contact them by phone at 850-488-7052 and online: FDCCitizenServices@fdc.myflorida.com
FSU’s PILC provides legal representation to incarcerated youth and adults who were arrested and incarcerated before they turned 18 years of age through the Children’s Advocacy Clinic, the Children in Prison Project, and the Juvenile Solitary Confinement Project. Prospective clients who are currently incarcerated or detained may request services by writing to:
Florida State College of Law
Advocacy Center, Suite A010
425 West Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-1601
Family members may contact FSU’s PILC by phone at 850-644-9928 or online: www.law.fsu.edu/academics/clinical-programs/public-interest-law-center
Through two special projects – the Florida Institutional Legal Services Project and the Incarcerated Survivors Project – FLS provides legal services dedicated to protecting the rights of youth and adults who are currently incarcerated or recently released. FLS publishes and distributes reentry information packets to assist individuals transitioning back into their community following release from incarceration. FLS also provides specialized services to individuals who have suffered sexual abuse or harassment while incarcerated in Florida’s state prisons, jails, and detention centers. FLS serves as a legal resource regarding the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), offers legal advice and assistance through the reporting, grievance, and investigation process, and can assist with advocacy related to medical care, mental health care, and other services for incarcerated survivors. Finally, FLS works with community partners to help connect survivors with support and counseling services to help them heal. Individuals who are incarcerated may write to them:
Florida Legal Services
PO Box 533986
Orlando, FL 32853
Family members may call FLS at 407-801-4350 or go online at www.FloridaLegal.org to access free copies of publications by FLS, including their Florida Manual for Incarcerated Parents and their reentry packets.
FJI seeks to improve prison conditions in areas such as medical and mental health care, abuse, violence, disability accommodations, free speech, dangerous understaffing, overcrowding, and solitary confinement. It also includes cases seeking to end the criminalization of poverty, such as challenging laws that target homeless people and laws requiring cash bail. Incarcerated individuals can contact them by mail:
Florida Justice Institute
40 NW 3rd Street
Suite 200
Miami, FL 33128
Family members may contact them by phone at 305-358-2081 or online: www.FJI.law
The Human Rights Defense Center advocates for the rights of incarcerated and detained people. Individuals who are incarcerated may write to them:
Human Rights Defense Center
PO Box 1151
Lake Worth, FL 33460
Family members may contact them by phone at 561-360-2523 or online: www.HumanRightsDefenseCenter.org
Just Detention International (JDI) is a health and human rights organization that seeks to end sexual abuse in all forms of detention. People in detention may contact JDI via confidential, legal mail at the following address:
Just Detention International
c/o Cynthia Totten
3250 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1630
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Family members who know about an individual who has been sexually abused while incarcerated and would like support or information, including JDI’s Survivor Packet, may contact Leelyn Aquino, Operations Director, at laquino@justdetention.org or by phone at 213-384-1400 x110.
Prison TIPS is a program for the collection of intelligence on criminal activity and crimes, both in and outside of the Florida state prison system. Callers are not required to identify themselves and caller identity will remain confidential. Incarcerated individuals may contact TIPS by dialing *TIPS (Star 8477) and following the prompts. Family members may contact TIPS at 1-877-660-6850.
SPLC litigates to protect the civil rights of children, women, persons with disabilities, immigrants and migrant workers, LGBTQ community, and prisoners. Individuals who are incarcerated may write to them at the following address, but do not send any ORIGINAL documents with your correspondence as they will not be able to return them:
Southern Poverty Law Center
400 Washington Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36104
Family members may contact SPLC by phone at (334) 956-8200 or Toll-Free (888) 414-7752, or online: www.SPLCenter.org
The Innocence Project of Florida represents individuals with post-conviction claims of actual innocence who are sentenced state prisoners in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections. In other words, a person looking for assistance must have been convicted in a Florida State court, been sentenced, and have already completed their direct appeal process. Additionally, the Innocence Project of Florida cannot work directly on cases where an outside attorney has already been appointed or retained. Prospective clients who are incarcerated may request assistance by mail:
Innocence Project of Florida, Inc.
1100 East Park Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Individuals who write to the Innocence Project of Florida should explain their situation and request their Screening Questionnaire.
Communication must be between their office and the potential client, unless special circumstances (i.e. language barriers, learning disorders, disabilities) require an advocate to act on the person’s behalf. However, family members may contact them by phone at 850-561-6767 or online: www.FloridaInnocence.org
UM’s Innocence Clinic provides legal representation for individuals incarcerated for a minimum of 10 years who have new evidence of their innocence, such as recanting witnesses or DNA evidence. Prospective clients may write to them:
Miami Law Innocence Clinic
University of Miami School of Law
1311 Miller Drive
Suite B400
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Family members may learn more about UM’s Innocence and other clinics online: www.law.miami.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics
The FBRS provides referrals to a licensed attorney experienced in the area of law related to your legal problem. Individuals who are incarcerated may contact them by mail at:
Florida Bar Referral Service
651 East Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Family members may contact the FBRS by phone at 1-800-342-8011 or online: www.FloridaBar.org/public/lrs
Lambda Legal’s Help desk is an online resource for the community they serve in. They provide general legal information and resources relating to discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and HIV status: www.LambdaLegal.org/helpdesk
Martindale-Hubbell maintains an online directory of attorneys: www.martindale.com/find-attorneys
NOSSCR is a specialized bar association for attorneys and advocates who represent Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income claimants throughout the adjudicative process. They provide referrals to individuals who require a disability attorney close to where they live. Incarcerated individuals may contact them by mail at:
NOSSCR
1300 I (Eye) Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Family members may contact NOSSCR by phone at 1-845-682-1881 or online: www.NOSSCR.org
SSA is an agency that administers disability, survivor, and family benefits, and enrolls individuals in Medicare. SSA also provides Social Security Numbers, which are unique identifiers needed to work, handle financial transactions, and determine eligibility for certain government services. If you need to contact the Social Security Administration about the status of an application or for assistance with federal Social Security benefits, please contact them by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or online: www.ssa.gov
FFLA funds legal aid organizations. They do not provide legal assistance or make referrals to attorneys, but they do maintain a directory of local legal aid organizations available online: www.FundingFLA.org/florida-legal-aid-programs
Florida Law Help
Created to connect Floridians with help with family, employment, public benefits, consumer, and other areas of the law. They maintain a listing of local legal aid providers for every county in Florida available online: www.FloridaLawHelp.org
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