Learning from Civil Rights Lawsuits: A White Paper Series

July 7, 2022

The Clearinghouse is developing white papers that explore promising practices and recommended policies based on the litigation materials in our collection. Each white paper focuses on a different criminal justice related topic, offering guidance for litigation and non-litigation reform paths. The white papers also demonstrate how to access and use cases and documents in the Clearinghouse.

Subprojects

Policies for Expanding Hepatitis C Testing and Treatment in United States Prisons and Jails

By: Tessa Bialek, Managing Attorney, Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse & Matthew J. Akiyama, M.D., M.Sc., Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine

April 19, 2023

This project proposes model policies for scaling up Hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and treatment in United States prisons and jails. It also collects and makes available litigation documents and other materials related to HCV testing and treatment in prisons and jails, including: settlement agreements; judicial opinions; expert and monitor reports; and existing HCV policies.

A person in an orange top reaches their hand toward a person in a white coat, with a stethoscope and blue gloves, who is holding a blister pack of medication.

istock.com/mindfulmedia

Effective Communication with Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Blind, and Low Vision Incarcerated People

By: Tessa Bialek, Managing Attorney, and Margo Schlanger, Director, Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse

July 7, 2022

This project proposes model policies for jails and prisons to serve the needs of deaf, hard of hearing, blind, and low vision people in their custody and to comply with federal anti-discrimination law. It also collects and makes available litigation documents and other materials relating to prisoners with communication disabilities, including: settlement agreements; judicial opinions; expert and monitor reports; and existing prison and jail ADA/disability policies.

Incarcerated person, visible from mid-torso down, uses a white cane to navigate through a blue prison doorway.

Photo by Mark M. Hancock, The Beaumont Enterprise Credit: Hearst Communications, Inc.

Criteria and Procedures for Meaningful Parole Review for People Sentenced as Youth

By: Tessa Bialek, Managing Attorney, Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse

May 2, 2024

This project offers model policies to support robust, accurate, and meaningful parole review for people serving long sentences for crimes committed as youth. It also collects and makes available litigation materials, policy documents, and other resources relating to parole reform, and legal challenges to parole systems, for this cohort.

Juvenile reads. Shown through slot in the cell door.