World

Your 101 Guide to Support Incarcerated Women

Published

2 years ago

June 8, 2022

Since the show ‘Orange is the New Black’ was released to the public, many people have been given an insight into what happens in prison life. And even though the characters might be fictitious, the happenings that go on within prisons are a complete replica of what actually happens in real-life prisons.

Scarcity of hygiene products, pregnancy issues, poorly funded libraries, and lack of support from families and others regarding their cases is a nightmare that female inmates have to deal with every day. And women of color, LGBTQ+ inmates, and other inmates with disabilities tend to face the worse of these problems.

So if you are disturbed by any of these occurrences that happen, you should know that there are a few ways you can help these women and reduce the number of issues they have to deal with.

Physical Healthcare Approach

For example, there are a few organizations you could approach. The American Civil Liberties Union is actively working to secure the rights to abortion, medical care, and healthy labor for pregnant inmates. The Minnesota Doula Project is a national prison training event that offers insight into smooth and healthy birth experiences.

Legal Approach

Suppose you want to provide female inmates with legal assistance. In that case, Northwestern University’s legal department tends to operate a program that deals with wrongfully convicted women in prison, and their Women’s Project highlights the ways women are often at a disadvantage when they are investigated or questioned in court.

Donating Approach

There are actually a number of organizations that work in order to gather many reading resources for women in prison. For example, Chicago Books to Women in Prison is an organization that takes book requests from women it services. Their website offers information on how you can donate books, including an Amazon wishlist that outlines current requests from the inmates and even helps in hosting your own volunteering and book drive.

There are also additional contributions being made by business leaders such as Jamila Davis – a highly acclaimed African American entrepreneur, educator, motivational speaker, author, and prison reform activist. She is also the CEO of Black Women’s Lives Matter and the VIP Online Academy.

While being in prison, she developed a self-help curriculum designed to enable incarcerated women to heal, recognize their potential and gain the ability to achieve their life goals. Seeing how successful her venture became, many other prison systems eventually adopted the curriculum throughout the United States.

After leaving prison, she worked with her mother to establish Voices International Publications – a publishing company that produces books to inspire incarcerated women to make the most out of what they have.

Moreover, she also co-founded Women Over Incarcerated, which is an advocacy group that fights sentence reforms for non-violent female federal offenders. Today, she is creating programs that are helping at-risk students to avoid prison, and using the formula she created through her research, she is now serving as a professor at the Seton Hall University and a researcher at Yale University. And she is also the CEO of Black Women’s Lives Matter, a non-profit organization that is set up to celebrate, highlight and give resources to black women.

World

A Step-by-Step Guide to Hiring the Right Personal Injury Lawyer

Published

2 days ago

April 19, 2024

Michelle Langton

Are you dealing with injuries, loss of income, and hefty medical bills because of an accident that was not your fault? If yes, you need the services of an excellent personal injury lawyer. But how do you determine if a lawyer is a perfect match for your personal injury case when you have so many options? This step-by-step guide aims to teach you the critical steps to hiring the best personal injury lawyer in your state.

1. Know Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney

Typically, you must hire the right personal injury lawyer if you are pursuing a lawsuit for personal injury. As defined on Forbes, a personal injury lawsuit is a civil action that an injured person takes against a person or company responsible for an accident that resulted in injuries.

For instance, you get into a car crash or slip and fall incident in the workplace because of someone else’s fault. You can sue the party responsible for injuries, lost wages, medical bills, and mental anguish.

But there are instances you may not need a personal injury attorney despite being in an accident. For example, a minor fender bender where no one sustained injuries or had their property damaged is easy to resolve without involving lawyers. So, after an accident, evaluate the damages incurred. If they are severe, search for a personal injury attorney.

2. Do Extensive Research

Where do I begin my search? Referrals are valuable because you can ask specific questions regarding the lawyer’s communication style, availability, litigation experience, and fee structure. So, ask family and friends to recommend someone they have worked with. Search for attorneys in your area online if you need referrals. You can type a simple search query like ‘personal injury attorney near me’ on Google. Alternatively, look for a lawyer through online directories.

3. Schedule Free Consultations

You want to know what a personal injury lawyer will do for you. Therefore, schedule a free consultation meeting and ask questions like:

What will you prioritize in my case?

The right attorney will focus on getting justice and fair compensation to ensure your stress-free recovery. Communication should also be a top priority. The lawyer should communicate with you using simple terms to help you understand your legal rights. More importantly, they should update you about the case progress on time.

Do you have experience handling cases like mine?

As lawyers at Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo law firm mention, experienced personal injury attorneys will guide you through the legal process. Even more interesting, they will handle negotiations on your behalf to safeguard your rights. So, make sure your lawyer has experience in personal injury law.

It would be better if they had specialized experience handling cases like yours. For example, if you are pursuing a truck accident lawsuit, you will want a personal injury lawyer with expertise in dealing with trucking accident claims.

What is the value of my personal injury claim?

After evaluating your case, a skilled attorney should tell you the worth of your personal injury claim. What you should be cautious of are unrealistic estimates and guarantees. There are no assurances in personal injury claims. If a lawyer promises a higher settlement that sounds too good to be true, do not fall for it because they are lying.

How much are your legal fees?

Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee arrangement. Based on Cornell Law School, a contingent fee structure allows lawyers to receive a certain percentage of the total settlement value a client wins. As a result, you do not pay your legal representative any upfront fee.

4. Check Testimonials

Aside from experience, work with a trustworthy and reputable attorney. You can quickly determine a lawyer has an outstanding reputation by reading testimonials from past clients.

Find out if the clients feel happy about the outcomes of their case. How about the style of communication? Does the lawyer explain legal terms in simple language?

A reputable lawyer will receive positive feedback from clients and respect from peers. Also, check with your local bar association to ensure your preferred lawyer doesn’t have disciplinary actions against them.

5. Select Your Lawyer

At this point, comfort matters a lot. Do not choose a lawyer you feel uncomfortable discussing your legal issues with. Also, ensure they have the experience and resources to win your personal injury claim. Equally important, they should have an excellent reputation.

Conclusion

When you are a victim of an accident that someone else caused out of negligence, you need to seek justice and compensation for your injuries. There is only one way to achieve these goals. You must work with the best lawyer to pursue a personal injury claim. True, choosing the right one can be challenging. But you can make an informed decision if you follow this step-by-step guide to hiring the right personal injury lawyer.