Jailhouse Law—Lawyering as an Inmate
An interview with Phillip Miller
Jailhouse lawyers are inmates who help other inmates with legal filings while in prison. They handle matters from divorce to criminal appeals to claims against prison officials. They write motions and briefs and counsel clients; short of court representation, they provide the range of legal services that a licensed lawyer would. While the Supreme Court has recognized the importance of jailhouse lawyers in prisons where access to the courts is limited, jailhouse lawyers still operate in a legal gray area in many jurisdictions. Phillip Miller, a former jailhouse lawyer, explains how jailhouse lawyering works in practice and the crucial role that jailhouse lawyers play in the American penal system.
