Volunteering

Legal Services for Prisoners with Children is a non-profit agency of 10 employees. We offer opportunities year round for law students and non-law student interns and volunteers.

LSPC offers 3 intern sessions per year, January through May, June through August and September through December. During the summer sessions, our interns are expected to work a minimum of 35 hours per week. We ask for a 16-hour week minimum commitment for law students and a 10-hour minimum commitment from non-law students during the fall and spring sessions. All interns and volunteers are assigned a staff member responsible for supervising his/her work during the commitment period. Interns are also assigned a mentor to guide them in their personal development during the time commitment.

We are also committed to working with other programs dedicated to placing interns in our organization, so, we are willing to accept interns from individual programs that may not be able to comply with our scheduled session dates.

Here are some of the projects interns and volunteers would be assigned:

• All of Us or None Organizing- A project dedicated to uniting and strengthening the voices of people most affected by U.S. prison politics - felons and former prisoners. Community outreach efforts are constantly being organized to inform and educate public officials, community leaders, and community members about the discriminatory practices formerly incarcerated people face as we re-enter society. Community Summits, policy initiatives, outreach inside jails and/or prisons, and corresponding to prisoners are a few of the ways interns and volunteers can join in this effort. Leadership development is a priority with this project and we welcome everyone who is interested in fighting for social change to join in this movement.
• Answering prisoner letters - We receive a significant number of letters from prisoners regarding a variety of issues. Although we work mainly with women prisoners, incarcerated men from all over the country write us daily. We answer all prisoner letters. Prisoners who actively work on their own cases and also help other prisoners inside sometimes request LSPC to research and/or find specific case law to send them. Interns are able to gain experience researching case law for this work. We have developed several form letters that are used and can be tailored to answer prisoner letters.
• Prison Visits - LSPC provides limited direct advocacy on behalf of individual women prisoners primarily around issues of medical neglect. This work includes monthly investigative visits to three of California’s state women’s prisons where staff and interns interview women about the conditions of their confinement. Working under the supervision of staff, interns take part in all aspects of prisons visits on-going advocacy efforts. All interns receive an orientation prior to participating in this aspect of the work.
• Habeas Project – The Habeas Project is a collaboration between Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Free Battered Women, California Women’s Law Center, and the USC Post-Conviction Justice Project. It was established in early 2002. The project offers free legal assistance to select battered women prisoners in California who qualify for assistance under Penal Code §1473.5. As of February 2004 the Project has already secured the release of 4 women who each have served over a decade in prison.
• Working with the Family Advocacy Network - We promote the leadership of family members as they struggle for their rights and the rights of their loved ones behind bars. We believe family members can play an important role in making sure their incarcerated loved ones are free from abuse, get needed medical care and are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Activities include:
  • A speaker’s bureau
  • An annual retreat for family members
  • Workshops on legislative and media work
  • Distribution of a manual for family members on how to advocate for your loved one in prison
  • Development of a traveling photo exhibit about the effect of incarceration on families
• We publish several manuals and information packets regarding prison issues that are read over and updated for current law cites annually. Volunteers and interns work on these updates.

Interns are sent information packets about LSPC prior to their commitment to assist them in starting their experience at LSPC.

For more information about our intern program, please contact Aaliyah Muhammad at 415-255-7036 ext. 305 or aaliyah@prisonerswithchildren.org.