The Prisoner's
      Guide to Survival

      
A Comprehensive
      Legal Assistance Manual for 

      Post Conviction Relief and Prisoners' Civil Rights Actions

      
by L. Powell Belanger,
      available from PSI Publishing, Inc.


      
Reviewed by
      Sam Rutherford

      Prison Legal News, May 2001 


      

        
The Prisoner's Guide to Survival is a new legal research tool that covers all aspects
        of federal litigation common to prisoners. The book is useful
        both to the novice pro se litigant and to the experienced attorney
        involved in federal criminal appeals or prisoner civil rights
        actions.
        
The first half of the Guide provides an
        in-depth step-by-step outline for litigating an appeal from a
        federal conviction or sentence, the filing of a federal habeas
        corpus petition by state or federal prisoners, litigating a federal
        civil rights complaint and the filing of petitions for a writ
        of certiorari in the Supreme Court. These diverse topics are
        each discussed succinctly in separate chapters and sections of
        the Guide. With sample forms at the end of each chapter, The
        Guide is written and organized in an easy to understand thorough
        fashion that clearly apprises the individual litigant of what
        to expect as his or her lawsuit moves forward. There is also
        a chapter on legal research and legal writing which is extremely
        insightful for the beginner.
        
More useful to the experienced litigant
        is the "Case Law" section of the Guide. In this second
        half of the book, the reader will find over 3,000 cases divided
        into more than 90 topics. Each case is followed by a brief synopsis
        describing the holding of the court as it relates to the topic
        under which the case is listed. The Guide also has a glossary
        defining a variety of legal words and terms, a resources directory
        for prisoner support services and interest groups ranging from
        pen-pal outlets to legal assistance organizations and an appendix
        containing information on the Freedom of Information Act and
        Privacy Act, accompanied by sample forms to use in obtaining
        information under these statutes.
        
This book is highly recommended and those
        who can afford it should seriously consider making this investment.
        
 
        
Watch for more reviews coming
        soon
        
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