PLAP Legal Resources

Prisoners Legal Services (PLS) offers legal assistance to inmates in cases relating to their civil rights, such as prison conditions, medical care, brutality cases and AIDS in prison, providing telephone information, advice, and self-help manuals. PLS was previously known as Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services (MCLS).

10 Winthrop Square, 3rd floor
Boston, MA 02110
617-482-2773
Open Mondays, 1-4 p.m.

State Prisoners, dial *9004# or 877-249-1342
County Jail prisoners, dial 617-482-4124
Families, dial 800-882-1413

Northeastern University Prisoners Assistance Project (PAP) represents state prisoners in Massachusetts in parole revocation, parole rescission, and parole release hearings for inmates serving serious second-degree life sentences.

Committee for Public Counsel Services: (Public Defender’s Office) offers criminal defense, assistance for children and parents in family interventions proceedings, youth advocacy in juvenile delinquency matters, assistance in mental health-related cases, and requests from sex offender registry clients.

Boston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service makes referrals to lawyers throughout the greater Boston area for both criminal and civil cases. There is no cost for contacting the Lawyer Referral Service. The maximum charge for the first half-hour consultation with a lawyer is $25. The lawyer’s fee is then arranged between you and the lawyer. For those financially eligible, the Lawyer Referral Service also has a reduced fee panel of lawyers.

Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service makes referrals to lawyers throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for both criminal and civil cases. There is no cost for contacting the Lawyer Referral Service. The maximum charge for the first half-hour consultation with a lawyer is $25. The lawyer's fee is then arranged between you and the lawyer. For those financially eligible, the Lawyer Referral Service also has a reduced fee panel of lawyers.

New England Innocence Project handles DNA cases.

Health Law Advocates assists prisoners having difficulty getting adequate medical care while incarcerated. Prisoners may write to them, but Health Law Associates does not accept collect calls.