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Prison Rights
The 2010 update to the Alaska Prisoners’ Rights
Guide is now available in both print and online versions.
The Guide provides a summary of prisoners’ rights in
Alaska and is intended as a comprehensive resource for prisoners
and their advocates seeking to challenge conditions of confinement
or enforce constitutional rights.
Prisoners may purchase a print copy by mail at a reduced cost
of $10, and others may purchase a copy for $20. Additional
details are available in
the Press Release. The Prison
Rights page of the ACLU of Alaska website contains free
online versions to the Guide
text; Addendum
with Department of Corrections Forms; Basic
Rights at a Glance; and Grievance
Process.
The Alaska Prisoners’ Rights Guide,
including the Addendum, Basic Rights at a Glance,
and Grievance Process, (collectively, the “Guide”)
are informational guides to the complicated field of prison law
in Alaska. The Guide was developed for educational purposes,
is only updated periodically and may not reflect recent
changes in the law.
The Guide does not cover every area of law which
might be needed to prosecute a claim. Every legal claim is different,
so no guide can substitute for the expertise of a knowledgeable
attorney. If you believe you may have a claim, consult an attorney.
It is important to understand that you may lose your right to
pursue a claim if you do not file a lawsuit or administrative
complaint before certain deadlines. Therefore, it is important
that you seek advice from a lawyer licensed to practice in the
State of Alaska if you have any questions about filing deadlines
or about your legal circumstances generally. You may also wish
to contact these organizations to see if one of them they may
be able to assist you with your individual complaint: the Alaska
Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, (800) 770-9999; the
Alaska Pro Bono Program, (907) 529-1360; or the Alaska
State Ombudsman, (907) 269-5290.
The Guide itself consists of the following four
documents:
ACLU announces publication of Rethinking
Alaska’s Corrections Policy: Avoiding an Everyday Crisis. The
culmination of a two-year project reviewing the general conditions
in the correctional system in Alaska, the ACLU team interviewed
more than 150 prisoners. The Department of Corrections cooperated
and supplied substantial information. The report addresses
issues including: overcrowding; contract facility understaffing;
quality of medical care; prisoners with mental illness; rehabilitative
programs; and treatment of Alaska Natives and women. The
ACLU intends the Report to support continuing improvement
in the criminal justice and correctional systems in Alaska. Click
here for a full e-copy of the Report.
ACLU to Fight Discrimination Against People with Criminal
Records
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Do you have a criminal
record? Have you experienced employment discrimination? Many
employers do routine background checks, but refusing to
hire or firing someone because of his or her criminal record
could violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, particularly
if it’s based on an old conviction that is unrelated
to the job sought.
The ACLU of Alaska along with the national
ACLU Women’s Rights Project is launching an initiative
to help people with criminal records who are barred from
rebuilding their lives through employment discrimination. We
want to challenge barriers to employment by enforcing
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Click
here to learn more > |
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