{"id":405,"date":"2015-12-10T16:53:47","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T21:53:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nlg.org\/guild-notes\/?post_type=article&p=405"},"modified":"2017-04-06T17:13:26","modified_gmt":"2017-04-06T21:13:26","slug":"nlg-sf-bay-areas-police-prisons-committee-launches-prisoner-advocacy-network-2","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.nlg.org\/guild-notes\/article\/nlg-sf-bay-areas-police-prisons-committee-launches-prisoner-advocacy-network-2\/","title":{"rendered":"NLG-SF Bay Area\u2019s Police & Prisons Committee Launches Prisoner Advocacy Network"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Caitlin Henry, NLG San Francisco Bay Area Chapter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

We are excited to launch the Prisoner Advocacy Network and share \u201cSupport From Outside The Walls\u201d training materials!<\/p>\n

Prisoner Advocacy Network (PAN) <\/strong><\/p>\n

On November 21, the NLG-SF Bay Area Chapter\u2019s Police & Prisons Committee launched it\u2019s Prisoner Advocacy Network (PAN)<\/a>. We will train California based volunteers in advocating for people in solitary, and will pair advocates with folks on the inside.<\/p>\n

\"\"

\u201cShutting the SHU\u201d panel at the 2015 Law for the People Convention. (Caitlin Henry)<\/p><\/div>\n

Following California\u2019s prison hunger strikes, loved ones of people suffering from solitary confinement alerted the NLG to the need for individualized advocacy. We formed a network of activists, family members, formerly incarcerated people, legal workers, law students, and attorneys. We aim to strengthen movements on the inside and their corollaries on the outside by providing advocacy for incarcerated activists. We seek to eliminate the use of solitary as punishment for people who are discriminated against due to their political perspectives and organizing. Our focus is narrow and specific\u2014 supporting people in California\u2019s solitary confinement and similar conditions of isolation, such as security housing units (SHUs), administrative segregation, and gender-based segregation. We prioritize advocating for jailhouse lawyers and those engaged in political activity.<\/p>\n

We will provide non-litigation advocacy. Our training and activities will include correspondence with people inside, phone calls and letters to prison and health care officials, assisting with filing administrative appeals, filing complaints, public records requests and possibly visits.<\/p>\n

To volunteer, email pan@nlgsf.org with your name, status (formerly incarcerated, legal worker, law student, etc.), and relevant experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cSupport from Outside the Walls\u201d Training Series<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are partnering with allied organizations on a training series. Please visit caitlinkellyhenry.com\/support <\/a>to see our materials from the following trainings:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Support from the Outside<\/li>\n
  2. CDCR Appeals Process<\/li>\n
  3. Medical and Conditions Advocacy for Transgender People Detained or Incarcerated in the Federal System<\/li>\n
  4. CDCR Records: How to Request, Read, and Utilize Prison C-File, Medical, and other Records<\/li>\n
  5. Legal and Family\/Social Visits<\/li>\n
  6. Support for People in Immigration Detention<\/li>\n
  7. Challenges to Getting Appropriate Medical or Mental Health Care On The Inside: Tools For More Effective Advocacy and Better Outcomes for Incarcerated People and Supporters On The Outside<\/li>\n
  8. Meeting People Where They\u2019re At<\/li>\n
  9. Writing Advocacy Letters for Medical Care, Mental Health Care, and Disability Accommodations<\/li>\n
  10. Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue for Advocates of People Incarcerated in the SHU\/Solitary\/Segregation<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Other Committee Work<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Members organized an inspiring panel at the Convention, \u201cShutting the SHU: Movement Strategies for Ending Solitary Confinement.\u201d Committee members penned the article, \u201cNLG Plays Pivotal Role in Solitary Confinement Victory,\u201d<\/a> about contributions to the political and legal work that paved the way for the Ashker case\u2019s September 1 settlement.<\/p>\n

    We meet every second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM, alternating between San Francisco and Oakland. We invite NLG members and allied groups and individuals to attend. Phone conferencing is available. \u25a0<\/p>\n

    Featured Image: P&P member and PAN Co-Founder Marie Levin with her brother Sitawa during his first contact visit after 31 years in the SHU. He was a CA hunger strike leader and a lead plaintiff in the and built the foundation for releasing people from the SHU. Marie said, “The day was exciting and a historical moment for her family. 31 plus years since he was locked in solitary confinement, having a chance to hug him was like a miracle.”<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    By Caitlin Henry, NLG San Francisco Bay Area Chapter We are excited to launch the Prisoner Advocacy Network and share \u201cSupport From Outside The Walls\u201d training materials! Prisoner Advocacy Network (PAN) On November 21, the NLG-SF Bay Area Chapter\u2019s Police & Prisons Committee launched it\u2019s Prisoner Advocacy Network (PAN). We will train California based volunteers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":409,"menu_order":269,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"issuem_issue":[3],"issuem_issue_categories":[],"issuem_issue_tags":[30,36,29,32],"class_list":["post-405","article","type-article","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","issuem_issue-gn-40-4","issuem_issue_tags-california","issuem_issue_tags-nlg-sf","issuem_issue_tags-prisons","issuem_issue_tags-solitary-confinement","post","post-with-thumbnail","post-with-thumbnail-large"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t