Watch. Learn. Decide your next step.

When someone you love is hurt, sick, or ignored behind bars, you usually find out over a short phone call, and then nobody will tell you anything else. These videos are made for that moment. Each one is about a minute long and covers one situation families call us about every week: a loved one who is being denied medical care, a son who was beaten by guards, a jail that says there is no video, a death in custody that nobody will explain.

Every video ends with a next step, and most are paired with a full written guide on this site. If you would rather start with reading, the most useful places to begin are the First 72 Hours guide, which covers what to write down and which deadlines start running right away, prison medical neglect, guard assault and excessive force, and how to get medical records and video from a jail.

If something is happening right now, do not wait for the right video. Call the Prisoner Legal Aid Family Help Line at 786-408-5073 or text 727-635-0600. Prisoner Legal Aid is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.