"The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons" --- Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Who We Are

The Lewisburg Prison Project, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides legal and other assistance to prisoners in Central Pennsylvania. We are dedicated to the principle that prisoners are persons with incontestable rights to justice and compassion. We strive to provide safeguards for their constitutional and human rights. LPP was founded in 1973 by concerned citizens of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Currently, the LPP consists of one full-time paralegal, an office manager, student interns, and volunteers; we hope that our future funding will enable us to hire an attorney.

Recent Press Coverage

What We Do

We counsel and assist prisoners who write to us when they encounter treatment they perceive as illegal or unfair. Our geographic coverage area includes four federal institutions (Allenwood, Lewisburg, McKean, and Schuylkill), 11 Pennsylvania state prisons, and 34 county jails in the middle district of Pennsylvania. We write to and visit inmates and assist them by talking to prison authorities, furnishing inmates with appropriate legal materials, and evaluating individual cases to determine if wish to represent inmates in civil litigation.

In addition to communicating with prisoners in central Pennsylvania, the Lewisburg Prison Project distributes publications to inmates nationwide at a nominal fee. A partial list of our Legal Bulletins includes the following titles: Legal Research, Religious Rights, First Amendment, Access to Courts, Exhausting Administrative Remedies, Disciplinary Hearings, Racial/Religious Discrimination, Assaults, and Medical Rights. Most of these Legal Bulletins are available on-line. We also distribute the Prisoners' Rights Handbook as well as other legal information by mail (order form).

Funding

The Lewisburg Prison Project, Inc. welcomes financial contributions. The Project is funded through a variety of sources including grants and IOLTA funds, and contributions from individuals. Our work in state and local prisons is supported through our partnership with the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project.

If you would like to make a donation, please send a check payable to the "Lewisburg Prison Project" to P.O. Box 128, Lewisburg, PA 17837, or you may make a secure online donation with a credit card using the link below. The Lewisburg Prison Project is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Affiliates & Additional Resources

Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project - The Lewisburg Prison Project works in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project. The Lewisburg office handles prisoner complaints for central Pennsylvania. For prisoner complaints in Eastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, contact: Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, Angus Love, The Cast Iron Building, Suite 304 South, 718 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215) 925-2966. For prisoner complaints in Western Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, contact: Community Justice Project, Marybeth Walsh, 1705 Allegheny Bldg., 429 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 434-6002

Links to other resources.

Volunteer Opportunities

Members of the community and students interested in public interest work, civil rights, and/or prisoner rights are encouraged to volunteer. Volunteers will gain valuable experience working under the supervision of Prison Project attorneys on a wide variety of requests for legal assistance. Volunteer's responsibilities may include assisting with legal research and writing, corresponding with prisoners, and assisting with office functions. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to visit prisoners.