Helping Incarcerated Survivors Through Legal Advocacy

• Throughout the spring and fall of 2003, Habeas Project representatives recruited attorneys, law students and other volunteers interested in helping women file habeas petitions.
• Habeas Project representatives made presentations at the Central California Women’s Facility and Valley State Prison for Women to explain PC §1473.5 and the Habeas Project to nearly 200 women prisoners. The Habeas Project then screened nearly 150 women through mail-in questionnaires and in-person interviews to determine whether they may be eligible for relief.
• As a result of these combined efforts, in 2003, the Habeas Project assigned 41 women who may win release under PC § 1473.5 to pro bono legal teams staffed by over 100 volunteers throughout the state.
• In 2005 and 2006, the Habeas Project identified many more survivors who were eligible for assistance under the expanded provisions of the law, and is recruiting more volunteer attorneys and students to represent them.
• As of June 2007, 19 domestic violence survivors serving life sentences have been released through the efforts of their Habeas Project attorneys.