NATIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE

ACLU National Prison Project
915 15th Street, NW
7th Floor
Washington D.C., 20005
Office: (202) 393-4930
Website: www.aclu.org/prisons

The ACLU National Prison Project handles class action suits involving prison conditions and related issues in state and federal institutions. Litigation is usually limited to cases involving major class actions challenging prison conditions or otherwise of national significance. The ACLU does not handle post-conviction cases or cases on behalf of individual prisoners. All complaints should be sent via mail.

An Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Collection (AARDVARC)
Website: www.aardvarc.org
Email: aardvarcinfo@aol.com

This site is for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault; their families and friends; and the agencies and programs which serve them. AARDVARC provides general educational and reference material as well as a comprehensive nationwide directory of services. Founded in 1996, this site is written, paid for and maintained by a small group of volunteers in their spare time.

Advocate Web
P.O. Box 202961
Austin, TX 78720
Website: www.advocateweb.org
E-mail: hope@advocateweb.org

Advocate Web is a nonprofit organization that provides information and resources to promote awareness and understanding regarding the exploitation of persons by trusted helping professionals. Advocate Web has existed as a website since January 1998 and since that time has aggressively worked to provide free public information resources on the web for people who have been emotionally/sexually exploited or abused by someone in a "trusted helping profession". Advocate Web is a helpful resource for victim/survivors, their family and friends, the general public, and for victim advocates and professionals.

Center for Disease Control HIV/STD Hotline
24-hour HIV/AIDS Hotline (English and Spanish): (800) 232-4636
HIV/AIDS TTY: (888) 232-6348
STD Hotline (English): (800) 227-8922
STD Hotline (Spanish): (800) 344-7432
STD (Spanish) Hotline Hours: 8:00 am to 2:00 am EST
STD Hotline TTY/TDD: (800)243-7889

The Center for Disease Control offers two hotlines open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Both hotlines provide anonymous, confidential information on these diseases and their prevention. The hotlines also provide referrals to clinical and other services.

Center for Health Justice
8235 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 214
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Office: (323) 822-3835
Hotline: (888) 372-0888
Hotline Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm PST
Website: www.healthjustice.net
Email: info@healthjustice.net

Center for Health Justice offers programs and services to both men and women in correctional facilities with a focus on prisoners who are HIV+ or at greatest risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Center for Health Justice has a free national prisoner HIV prevention & treatment hotline that accepts collect calls from inmates during regular business hours. The hotline provides general HIV treatment and prevention information, support for callers who are ill or newly diagnosed HIV+, and advocacy support regarding medical care, medications, or other health issues inside the jails and prisons across the country.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender National Help Center
2261 Market Street, PMB #296
San Francisco, CA 94114
Hotline: (888) 843-4564
Hotline Hours: Monday-Friday, 1-9pm and Saturday, 9am-2pm PST
Website: www.GLBTNationalHelpCenter.org
Email: info@GLBTNationalHelpCenter.org

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender National Hotline provides telephone and email peer-counseling, as well as factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States. Volunteer peer counselors share information about coming-out issues, relationship concerns, HIV/AIDS anxiety, safer-sex information, and more. The hotline also maintains the largest resource database of its kind in the United States, with over 15,000 listings. All services are free and confidential.

Latino Commission on AIDS
24 West 25th Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10010
Office: (212) 675-3288
Website: www.latinoaids.org

The Latino Commission on AIDS is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Latino community. The Commission provides bilingual (English/Spanish) advocacy, HIV treatment education, HIV testing and counseling and referrals for HIV care and other healthcare needs of Latinos in the U.S. The Commission accepts collect calls from prisoners.

Male Survivor
PMB 103
5505 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20015-2601
Office: (800) 738-4181
Website: www.malesurvivor.org

Male Survivor, formerly National Organization against Male Sexual Victimization (NOMSV), serves any male who has been sexually abused. Male Survivor is committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism. Although their work is directed to males, they are interested in helping any victim of sexual abuse.

National Hepatitis C Prison Coalition
PO Box 41803
Eugene, OR 97404
Office: (541) 607-5725
Website: www.hcvinprison.org
Email: Pkbeckinor@aol.com

The National Hepatitis C Prison Coalition was formed to bring together organizations and individuals interested in raising awareness and providing support to prisoners who are suffering from hepatitis and HIV/HCV co-infection. Their goal is to help educate prisoners and advocate for better testing, treatment and prevention of these diseases. The National Hepatitis C Prison Coalition offers seminars, workshops and support groups both inside and outside of correctional facilities. The Coalition distributes information packets to anyone who is interested in this issue and advocates for better and more humane treatment of incarcerated persons living with hepatitis C.

The National Women’s Health Information Center
8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive
Fairfax, VA 22031
Hotline: (800) 994-9662
TTY: (888) 220-5446
Hotline Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am – 6pm EST
Website: www.4woman.gov

The National Women’s Health Information Center is a project of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health. Information is provided on sexual assault, including specific resources and information on how to get help. Trained English- and Spanish-speaking Information and Referral Specialists have access to thousands of publications and organizations with information on sexual assault, and they will find and order free health information or provide organizational referrals to assist you with any health questions.

Project Inform National HIV/AIDS Treatment Hotline
205 13th Street, #2001
San Francisco, CA 94103
Office: (415) 558-8669
Hotline: (800) 822-7422
San Francisco area/International hotline: (415) 558-9051
Hotline Hours: Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm PST
Website: www.projectinform.org
Email: infoline@projectinform.org

Project Inform is a national, nonprofit, community-based organization working to end the AIDS epidemic. Project Inform’s toll-free National HIV/AIDS Treatment Hotline provides HIV care and treatment information, free of charge, to people living with HIV, their healthcare and service providers, and family members. The hotline accepts collect calls from inmates and can also mail out materials.

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
2000 L Street NW, Suite 406
Washington, DC 20036
Office: (202) 544-1034
Hotline: (800) 656-4673
Website: www.rainn.org
E-mail: info@rainn.org

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the 24-hour National Sexual Assault Hotline for victims of sexual assault and automatically connects callers to their local rape crisis center for counseling. More than 800 centers nationwide participate in the network.

Transgender, Gender Variant and Intersex Justice Project
1095 Market St. Suite 308
San Francisco, CA 94103
Office: (415) 252-1444
Website: www.tgjip.org

The Transgender, Gender Variant and Intersex (TGI) Justice Project's mission is to challenge and end the human rights abuses committed against transgender, gender variant/genderqueer and intersex (TGI) people in California prisons and beyond. Specifically, TGIJP assists TGI people in the San Francisco Bay Area awaiting sentencing to petition their judges to divert them into plans that would connect them to needed health, social and economic services, rather than sentencing them to jail or prison. TGIJP also supports base-building projects that build the leadership capacity of TGI communities, and especially among TGI prisoners and former prisoners. Although TGIP focuses most of its work in California, TGI prisoners and former prisoners from outside California are encouraged to contact the organization for information and support. Prisoners can send confidential legal mail to the above address, c/o Alexander Lee, Attorney at Law

Women Alive
1566 Burnside Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Hotline: (800) 554-4876
Hotline Hours: Monday-Friday, 11am -6pm PST
Website: www.women-alive.org
Email: info@women-alive.org

Women Alive is a national treatment-focused, non-profit organization by and for women living with HIV/AIDS. Women Alive offers a national hotline staffed by HIV-positive women geared for HIV-positive women who would like peer support or treatment information. Spanish speaking operators are available. Se ofrecen operadoras en español.

GOVERNMENT RESOURCES FOR STATE AND JAIL INMATES

Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
Special Litigation Section
950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20503
Office: (202) 514-6255
Website: www.usdoj.gov/crt/split/index.html

The DOJ Civil Rights Division enforces the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, which authorizes the Attorney General to initiate suits against state or local officials who operate institutions in which a pattern or practice of flagrant or egregious conditions deprive residents of their constitutional rights. While this office collects information about specific incidents in order to determine whether there may be a pattern or practice that warrants investigation, they do not have authority to investigate or remedy individual complaints about a particular incident. The Special Litigation Section can only investigate institutions run by, or on behalf of, state and local governments. This means that the Civil Rights Division cannot investigate federal institutions (such as federal prisons or ICE detention centers).

GOVERNMENT RESOURCES FOR FEDERAL DETAINEES

Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 4706
Washington, DC 20530
Hotline (English and Spanish): (800) 869-4499
Website: www.usdoj.gov/oig/
Email: inspector.general@usdoj.gov

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigates complaints regarding the violation of civil rights/civil liberties by Department of Justice (DOJ) employees. It also conducts independent audits, inspections, and special reviews of DOJ personnel and programs to detect and deter waste, fraud, and abuse. The OIG has jurisdiction over all complaints of misconduct against Department of Justice employees, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; United States Attorneys Offices; and employees who work in other Divisions or Offices in the Department of Justice. Individuals who believe that a Department of Justice employee has violated their civil rights or civil liberties may contact the OIG by mail at the above address.

GOVERNMENT RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRATION DETAINEES

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Detention Management Division
Attn: Michael Meade, Acting Deputy Assistant Director
ICE Office of Detention and Removal
801 I Street, NW, Suite 980
Washington, DC 20536
Fax: (202) 732-2982
E-mail: Michael.Meade@dhs.gov

For allegations involving medical or mental health care:
Attn: Captain Philip Jarres, Branch Chief of Field Operations, U.S. Public Health Service
1220 L Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
Fax: (202) 732 0095
E-mail: philip.jarres@dhs.gov

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Management Division investigates allegations of violations of immigration detention standards that cannot be resolved on a facility-level. If a detainee feels the local ICE office failed to take appropriate action in a timely manner in response to an alleged violation of detention standards, the detainee should report the matter to ICE Headquarters. Please direct these inquiries to the Acting Deputy Assistant Director at the address above. All reports of alleged violations should be submitted in writing via letter, e-mail, or fax. If the concern involves medical or mental health care, the detainee should also copy Captain Philip Jarres, Branch Chief of Field Operations for the United States Public Health Service at the address listed above.

Department of Homeland Security, Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
245 Murray Lane, SW
Building 410, Mail Stop #800
Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Review and Compliance Unit
Washington, DC 20528
Office: (202) 401-1474
TTY: (202) 401 0470
Toll-free: (866) 644 8360
Toll-free TTY: (866) 644 8361
Fax: (202) 401-4708
E-mail: civil.liberties@dhs.gov
Website: www.dhs.gov/civilliberties

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) reviews and assesses information concerning abuses of civil rights, civil liberties, and profiling on the basis of race, ethnicity, or religion, by employees and officials of the Department of Homeland Security. Immigration detainees are encouraged to attempt to resolve their concerns through contacting ICE, however complaints about alleged violations of the standards may also be filed directly with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Complaints should be submitted in writing via letter, fax, or e-mail to the address listed above. For packages/overnight deliveries, contact the office at the telephone number listed above. In addition, complaints that relate to alleged abuses by ICE and other DHS law enforcement officials; profiling on the basis of race, ethnicity, or religion; and due process violations may be sent to CRCL at these addresses as well. CRCL may refer complaints back to ICE for resolution when appropriate.

Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General
Washington, DC 20528
Attn: Office of Inspector General
Toll-free Hotline: (800) 323-8603
Fax: (202) 254-4292
E-mail: DHSOIGHOTLINE@dhs.gov
Website: www.dhs.gov/xoig/

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for conducting and supervising audits, investigations, and inspections relating to the programs and operations of the Department and is charged with preventing and detecting fraud, abuse, mismanagement, and waste in DHS programs and operations. Complaints involving allegations of criminal misconduct or serious and repeated violations of DHS rules, policies, or regulations will be submitted by ICE and CRCL to the OIG for possible investigation. Complaints can also be submitted to the OIG in writing via letter, e-mail, or fax to the address listed above. Individuals can also contact the OIG by calling the hotline. DHS OIG may refer complaints to ICE or elsewhere for resolution, therefore it is crucial that persons submitting complaints to the OIG include the phrase, “I grant the DHS OIG permission to release my identity and complaint to any government agency or bureau that they deem appropriate.” If such permission is not granted, the OIG may close the complaint.