Prisoners' Self Help Litigation Manual [Paperback]

John Boston (Author), Daniel E Manville (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195374401 | ISBN-13: 978-0195374407 | Publication Date: September 27, 2010 | Edition: 4

Prisoners' Self-Help Litigation Manual, in its much-anticipated fourth edition, is an indispensable guide for prisoners and prisoner advocates seeking to understand the rights guaranteed to prisoners by law and how to protect those rights. Clear, comprehensive, practical advice provides prisoners with everything they need to know on conditions of confinement, civil liberties in prison, procedural due process, the legal system, how to litigate, conducting effective legal research, and writing legal documents. Written by two legal and penitentiary experts with intimate knowledge of prisoner's rights and legal aid work, authors John Boston and Daniel E. Manville strategically focus on federal constitutional law, providing prisoners and those wishing to assist them with the most important information concerning legal rights.

Over the past decade, prison law and conditions have changed significantly. This new edition is updated to include the most relevant prisoners' rights topics and approaches to litigation. Updates include all aspects of prison life as well as material on legal research, legal writing, types of legal remedies, and how to effectively use those remedies.

Certainly the most authoritative, well-organized and relevant prisoner's rights manual available - - the eagerly awaited fourth edition should be purchased by everyone interested in civil rights for the incarcerated.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In the many years I have worked with people facing or serving capital and Life sentences, I have experienced their frustration at their own inability to take charge of their cases and/
or their grievances...they lack the skills and the access to good law libraries. The Prisoners' Self-Help Litigation Manual, available for more than 25 years but recently updated, takes on the task of providing prisoners with the tools to handle their legal needs. It explains the pertinent law, shows them what they need to do to litigate an issue, and provides them with resources for help. As a self-trained professional in this field, I also found it extremely helpful. I truly believe that defense teams, advocates, and family members of the incarcerated should do their best to see that clients and loved ones have this important resource. And they should buy one for themselves!"
--Claudia Whitman
Director, National Death Row Assistance Network of CURE

About the Author

John Boston is Director of the Prisoners' Rights Project of the New York City Legal Aid Society. Mr. Boston received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law. He began his career as a research coordinator for The Defender Project of the Twentieth Century Fund in New York City. He has also contributed research and writing concerning prison population issues for the Correctional Association of New York and began his tenure as the Legal Aid Society as a staff attorney. Mr. Boston is widely published, with numerous articles on prisoners, their rights and circumstances nationwide, and has litigated several cases pertaining to prisoner's rights. He also participated in a national working group with the ACLU in response to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, reviewing briefs and pleadings, consulting with prisoner advocates, preparing CLE and practice materials. He is on the faculty of the Practicing Law Institute and co-administrator of the Prisoners' Rights section of the website www.probono.com.

Daniel E. Manville is an attorney specializing in civil rights litigation. Mr. Manville has a Bachelor in Science from Central Michigan University (1976); a Bachelor Degree in General Studies from Wayne State University (1976); a Juris Doctorate from Antioch School of Law (now University of District of Columbia Law School) (1981); a Master in Criminal Justice, Michigan State University (1985). From 1988 through 2003, he was in private practice concentrating on providing representation to prisoners. From 2003 to summer of 2007, Manville was the Clinical Staff Attorney for Wayne State University Civil Rights Litigation Clinic. During 2007 and 2008 academic year, Manville was a Visiting Professor at University of Denver Law School Civil Rights Clinic. He is also an author and co-author of a number of self-help litigation manuals for prisoners; a number of articles on rights of prisoners; and co-author of A Prisoner's Rights, 2005 Annual Survey of Michigan Law, 2005 Wayne Law Review.

Product Details

• Paperback: 960 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 4 edition (September 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195374401
• ISBN-13: 978-0195374407
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Law > Administrative Law > Civil Law
  • #12 in Books > Law > One-L > Legal Writing
  • #20 in Books > Law > Practical Guides

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory Reading for everybody., January 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Prisoners' Self-Help Litigation Manual (Paperback)

Not just for prisoners. Know your rights. Learn the Legal Process from the inside. Be a jailhouse lawyer without going to law school.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth It's Weight In Gold, December 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Prisoners' Self-Help Litigation Manual (Library Binding)

This book was crucial to my early release from prison. Although it deals primarily with prison condition litigation, rather than conviction issues, I can think of no other gift to a loved one or friend who is incarcerated.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prisoners self help litigation manual-4th edition, August 14, 2011

By 

Ben - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Prisoners' Self Help Litigation Manual (Paperback)

This book was purchased for a County Detention Center. It was primarily purchased for pro-se inmates that choose to represent themselves. I only read parts of it, however what little I did read appeared to be very well written. Another good reason for purchasing this manual was due to the fact that it was strongly recommended by the ACLU.