On The Front Lines

Rutherford Institute Issues Resource for Prisoners Regarding their Basic Rights and How to Navigate the Legal System

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- In response to an increasing number of requests from prisoners seeking legal advice and information on how to navigate the legal system, The Rutherford Institute has issued a new resource entitled "Prisoners' Rights: A guide to your basic rights and the procedures you can follow in order to navigate the legal system." A copy of the Institute's guide for prisoners is here.

"As the Supreme Court has noted, prison walls do not form a barrier separating prison inmates from the protections of the Constitution," said John W. Whitehead. "For example, even inside prison walls, an inmate has various rights in regard to the practice of religion."

As an organization dedicated to the defense of civil liberties and human rights, The Rutherford Institute receives hundreds of requests each year from prisoners seeking advice and information on how to navigate our complicated court system. Faced with pressing legal issues such as claims of innocence, ineffective attorneys, physical abuse and religious discrimination, these prisoners often find themselves at a loss about how to navigate the legal system.

Rutherford Institute attorneys hope that those who are incarcerated will use the Institute's "Prisoners' Rights" resource to effectively defend their rights in America's judicial system. The pamphlet, provided free of charge to prisoners, instructs prisoners on their right to gain access to the courts, how to pursue claims of innocence and general information regarding their right to exercise their religious beliefs behind prison walls. The pamphlet also directs prisoners to other resources where they can find more specific information on their rights and how to pursue their claims.