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Give us as much detail as you can — facility, dates, what happened, and any records you have. More detail means a faster start.
Full Lawsuit Support
If someone you love has been hurt in a jail or prison — beaten, ignored while sick, left unprotected, or worse — we connect families with experienced civil rights attorneys in our nationwide network, at zero upfront cost to you. Request a free case review and we'll take it from there.
If this is your family
Maybe it's your son with injuries nobody at the facility will explain. Your husband whose sick calls keep going unanswered. Your sister transferred right after you started asking questions. You've called, you've waited, you've been polite — and you're getting nowhere. So now you're searching for a prisoner rights attorney who will actually listen.
That's what this page is for. Prisoner Legal Aid is not a law firm. Our team, under the oversight of a licensed attorney, helps you get what happened documented and organized, then connects your matter with the right attorney in our nationwide network — independent attorneys we work with, who take these cases at zero upfront cost. And because evidence in these cases disappears fast — camera footage is often overwritten within weeks — our free first 72 hours guide walks you through what to ask for right now, while you decide about a lawyer.
What may qualify
Where your loved one is held changes which law applies — and both paths can lead somewhere. If they're in a state prison or county jail, serious mistreatment — excessive force, medical neglect, failure to protect, a death in custody — can support a federal civil rights claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
If they're in federal custody, there's good news: the Federal Tort Claims Act lets people harmed by negligence in federal custody bring a claim against the United States itself — and it can reach assault and battery by federal officers (including sexual battery), injuries from unsafe conditions, and medical negligence.
This is not an exhaustive list — if you're unsure whether your matter fits, submit it anyway and let our team take a look.
Delayed or denied treatment, medication failures, failure to diagnose serious medical needs.
Unnecessary violence, retaliation, and related civil rights violations.
Deaths from neglect, force, or failure to protect in federal, state, county, or private custody.
Negligence claims against the United States arising from federal custody.
Constitutional violations not listed above may still qualify — submit for review.
Our team reviews every submission and will tell you honestly if it isn't a fit.
How it works
Give us as much detail as you can — facility, dates, what happened, and any records you have. More detail means a faster start.
Our team, under the oversight of a licensed attorney, reviews the matter for fit — either for full lawsuit support with a network attorney, or pro se document preparation.
Qualifying cases are presented to independent network attorneys, who decide whether to accept. Pro se matters move to our paralegal team for drafting.
If an attorney accepts your case, representation begins only after a written agreement. If you're proceeding pro se, you review, sign, and file every document yourself.
Get started
Phone
786-408-5073Hours
Monday–Friday: 9 AM–6 PM EST
Saturday: 10 AM–2 PM EST