Take Action
Resources for getting involved in criminal legal system reform, prison activism, and the transformative power of arts behind bars. This page is continually updated — check back often.
Get Involved in Criminal Legal System Issues
A Massachusetts resource for articles, how to contact your legislator, how to write a letter to the editor, and an abundance of material about prison issues in the state.
One of the best resources for national information on prison issues — an abundance of links covering activism, criminal legal system policy, the corrections industry, capital punishment, state departments of corrections, and women’s issues.
Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)
A national nonprofit challenging mandatory sentencing laws that propagate inflexible and excessive penalties. FAMM promotes sentencing policies that give judges discretion based on the defendant’s role, offense seriousness, and rehabilitation potential. Join to receive email updates.
Criminal Justice Policy Coalition (CJPC)
A member-based Massachusetts organization dedicated to effective, just, and humane criminal legal system policy. CJPC offers forums expanding public discourse on criminal legal system and maintains archived information on critical issues.
Prison Activist Resource Center (PARC)
A national clearinghouse for educators, activists, prisoners, and prisoners’ families. PARC’s outreach efforts aim to build action networks.
Ex-Prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement — a Massachusetts-based organization.
Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts
Promotes the safe, humane and lawful treatment of Massachusetts prisoners through civil rights litigation, administrative advocacy, client counseling, and outreach to policymakers and the public.
Representing Black Boston — centrally in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan but throughout the state. Does outstanding work on prison issues with reports, special newspapers, and critique on critical criminal legal system issues facing Massachusetts.
Documents the impact of mass incarceration on individuals, communities, and the national welfare to empower the public to improve criminal legal system policy.
Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project Blog
A useful blog run by Harvard law students covering the major prison issues of the day.
Transforming Justice with the Arts
Changing Lives, Changing Minds Blog
A blog dedicated to reform, affiliated with Changing Lives Through Literature — an alternative sentencing program founded on the power of literature to transform lives of people with criminal convictions, featuring a facilitator, judge, and probation officer reading and discussing books with clients. Also visit cltl.umassd.edu.
A collaborative theater project dedicated to healing, public awareness, and social change through empowering the voices of formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones. Check their website for upcoming performances.
A networking and storytelling site for people who facilitate performance work with incarcerated people — sharing information about work being done across the country and serving as a resource for those interested in theater, performance, dance, and music behind bars.
Amie creates extraordinary theater and dance pieces with formerly incarcerated men and women, and has also worked inside. Her website details videos from performances and the research behind her work. Watch a video of her recent project →
A blog of the Prison Communication, Activism, Research and Education Collective — dedicated to ending incarceration abuses. Contributors include teachers and activists with posts covering a wide range of issues.