Originally published in the Winter/Spring 2025 edition of the Virginia Defender, issue 76, printed March 26. Reproduced here for accessibility and archival purposes. To find other stories in the Winter/Spring 2025 issue or to download the full PDF, see this post. For other issues dating back to 2012, see the Full Issues page.

We always look forward to hearing from our sisters and brothers in Virginia’s prisons, jails and detention centers. We can publish your Letters to the Editor and report on unjust conditions.

But we don’t have attorneys, we’re not paralegals and we’re not able to provide legal advice.

Below are some organizations that may be able to help with legal matters. Thanks for your understanding.

THE INNOCENCE PROJECT AT UVA SCHOOL OF LAW
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 924-3732
Email: innocenceproject@virginia.edu.
The Virginia Innocence Project Pro
Bono Clinic seeks exoneration for
wrongfully convicted people in Virginia.
Students who volunteer investigate
cases; speak with and visit clients,
witnesses and other key people in the
case; and write briefs.

VIRGINIA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
If you have a civil or criminal matter that
may require the services of a lawyer,
you can call this service for an up-to-30-
minute consultation, for a prepaid fee of
$35. Call 800-552-7877 9 a.m. – 5 p,m.,
Monday through Friday.

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
OF VIRGINIA
530 E Main St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Website: acluva.org
Phone: (804) 644-8080
The ACLU tends to take on cases that
affect a large number of affected people,
such as suing the prison system to end
certain practices it considers illegal.