Published August, 2011

Know Your Rights: The Prison Litigation Reform Act, American Civil Liberties Union (2011)

This legal guide to the 1996 Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), updated in 2011, outlines the obstacles the Act can pose to prisoners seeking to file federal lawsuits, and strategies to help overcome those obstacles. The PLRA imposed several requirements on prisoners seeking to bring lawsuits, and failure to comply with these requirements can result in the suit being dismissed. The guide explains important procedural requirements such as "the exhaustion of administrative remedies" and its exceptions, filing fees, the "three strikes requirement," and the injury requirement.