Alabama

The Alabama Coalition Against Rape (ACAR) is a statewide nonprofit organization working to prevent sexual violence in the State of Alabama. At the heart of ACAR’s success is the network of rape crisis centers that provide services to survivors of rape and sexual assault. Staff or volunteers are available 24 hours a day to offer confidential crisis assistance through the crisis line, and hospital or police accompaniment. Counseling and advocacy services are also available to help survivors and their families through their recovery process. In addition, the centers work in their own communities to create public awareness and provide education about sexual violence. ACAR does not provide direct services, but can help survivors to contact the rape crisis center that is in their area.

Shepherd’s Fold operates five Christian residential re-entry facilities in Birmingham that provide food, shelter, and counseling to formerly incarcerated men. As part of the program, Shepherd’s Fold offers support groups for men who were sexually abused while in prison. Meetings are conducted weekly at a local church and are led by qualified counselors. To qualify for the program, an application must be filled out. To receive information or an application, send a letter to the address above. Shepherd’s Fold evaluates each application to determine if an individual is qualified to participate in the group (which can be done before release). The program lasts a minimum of four months, with a maximum of 1 ½ years of continued support and counseling available. As of June 2008, the cost of the program is $80/week.

The Investigations and Intelligence Division of the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) thoroughly investigates all reported violations of law to include misdemeanors, felonies, and internal affairs relating to ADOC employees, inmates, institutions, and divisions as directed by the Commissioner/designee or requested by a Warden/Director. Inmates who have been sexually assaulted in an ADOC facility can contact the Investigations and Intelligence Division by writing to the address above to report the assault and any concerns regarding the handling of investigations into such abuse.

The Lawyer Referral Service is a service of the Alabama State Bar. Its purpose is to assist in finding a lawyer to provide advice on legal problems. It is the only lawyer referral service operated by the Alabama State Bar. All panel members of the LRS are licensed lawyers in Alabama and are members in good standing of the Alabama State Bar. The referral attorney agrees to charge no more than $50.00 for the first 30-minute consultation. If your problem requires work beyond this time, and you decide to hire the lawyer, be sure to discuss any additional fees. An attorney bases his/her fee on the time and type of work involved, the difficulty in solving the problem and your needs as the client. LRS encourages you to ask for a written fee agreement before you proceed with any legal work beyond the first 30-minute consultation.

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) of Alabama is a private, nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to indigent defendants and prisoners who have been denied fair and just treatment in the legal system, including survivors of sexual abuse behind bars. EJI litigates on behalf of condemned prisoners, juvenile offenders, people wrongly convicted or charged with violent crimes, poor people denied effective representation, and others whose trials are marked by racial bias or prosecutorial misconduct. EJI works with communities that have been marginalized by poverty and discouraged by unequal treatment. EJI also prepares reports, newsletters and manuals to assist advocates and policymakers in the critically important work of reforming the administration of criminal justice. EJI is a small non-profit and receives a large number of requests for assistance. As such, EJI can only represent a small number of the individuals who contact the organization.

Service area: Nationally
Work with: Survivors of sexual abuse behind bars
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Legal assistance
Services for survivors after release include: Reentry assistance
Services for loved ones include: All of the above
Fees: Free

The Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) represents those confined to prisons and jails in class action law suits challenging inhumane conditions of confinement, degrading or discriminatory treatment, denial of medical and mental health care, and other constitutional violations.  Center attorneys will respond to complaints sent through the mail by prisoners throughout Alabama and Georgia, including cases of physical and sexual assault, but prisoners should be aware that the SCHR does not generally litigate individual cases.