Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project (PLAP)

The Prison Legal Assistance Project (PLAP) is a student practice organization in which students represent inmates in Massachusetts state prisons. PLAP student attorneys argue at disciplinary hearings on behalf of prisoners charged with violating prison regulations. PLAP students also argue before the Massachusetts Parole Board for prisoners facing parole revocation or rescission and second degree lifer hearings.  In addition, PLAP provides inmates with assistance in matters ranging from civil rights violations to confiscated property.  We do not handle criminal court cases, and we do not handle civil court cases.  If you are looking for this kind of assistance, please see our list of Legal Resources.  We also cannot assist non-Massachusetts state inmates.

For students, PLAP provides an excellent opportunity to develop litigation skills – like discovery, investigation and cross-examination – during your 1L year.  Every student attorney receives training and guidance from our supervising attorney and upper-level students.  Each member is encouraged to take on at least one case and is expected to work one hour in the office each week.  During office hours, students answer phone calls and letters from inmates, conduct some basic legal research, and refer inmates to appropriate legal services. For more information about how students can participate in PLAP, please visit our Join PLAP page.

CONTACT

Students are supervised by Attorney John Fitzpatrick.  Pamela Cameron is the Administrative Coordinator.  
Contact us at (617) 495-3969.  Prisoners should contact us on our collect call hotline (617) 495-3127.
Prison Legal Assistance Project
Gannett House 100
Harvard Law School
Cambridge, MA  02138