In 2007, ULS launched a new DC Jail Advocacy Project that functions as an outgrowth of its PAIMI Program but separately funded through a grant award from the DC Bar Foundation, as part of a landmark appropriation by the DC City Council to increase the number of lawyers working in underserved communities. This grant enabled ULS-P&A to develop and implement a new outreach effort to assist people with psychiatric disabilities in the DC Jail who are planning their reentry into the community.

The purpose of the program is:

• To help remove the barriers which men and women with mental illness face while transitioning back to the community and seeking social integration, access to healthcare and support for their major needs
• To provide direct advocacy and public education which optimizes the leadership, competency and dignity of presently and previously incarcerated individuals in developing independent and self-directed treatment and living opportunities
• To leverage local governmental commitments to implement a public health model which provides for continuity of care and services with transparency, dignity, human rights and public health protections for all individuals.

 People We Serve:

The DC Jail Advocacy Staff serves men, women and youth who meet all of the following criteria: Have a significant mental illness or emotional impairment as determined by a mental health professional

 Are or have been incarcerated within the District of Columbia

 Who, during his or her incarceration or within 90 days discharge, request help for problems related to care and/or treatment

DC Jail Advocacy Project Priorities:

The ULS staff is not authorized or able to represent everyone. Requests for assistance are assessed on a case-by-case basis using the following priorities:

 Rights protection issues

• Proximity of release/discharge date

 Information and referral

If ULS is not able to take your case, we will try to provide you with information and/or refer you to another organization.

 Facilities Covered:  

Currently, ULS resources only allow for direct advocacy within the Department of Corrections’ Central Detention Center and CCA’s Correctional Treatment Center.

How To Contact ULS

To request ULS DC Jail Advocacy assistance for yourself or someone you know, call (202) 527-7033 or 1-877-221-4638, or e-mail grohr@uls-dc.org. The office is located at 220 I Street, N.E., Suite 130, Washington, D.C. 20002.

Satisfaction

ULS makes every effort to provide effective rights-related advocacy, including the decision not to take a case. However, if any individual is not satisfied with ULS’s actions. A copy of the agency's grievance policy is found at the end of the PAIMI priorities section.