“This is the story,” he writes, “of law learned not in the ivory towers of multi-billion-dollar endowed universities [but] in the hidden, dank dungeons of America – the Prisonhouse of Nations.”

Selma James’s Introduction presents the parallel universe of UK jailhouse lawyers who, like their US counterparts, are leading a justice movement inside prisons.

UK prisoners, denied the vote, are campaigning for this fundamental right. A legal challenge brought by a jailhouse lawyer supported by a dedicated legal team won a European Court ruling in 2004 that a blanket ban on votes for prisoners violates their human rights. Yet the government, in opposing votes for prisoners, acts as if those of us who are prisoners are less human, and deny that prisons and what goes on in them also frame the kind of society we all inhabit.

The UK publication of Jailhouse Lawyers is an opportunity for prisoners’ campaign for the vote and other efforts for fundamental reforms to be more widely known and supported.

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Mumia Abu-Jamal has once more offered us new ways of thinking about law, democracy, and power. -- Angela Y. Davis, from the Foreword

They learn the law, the procedures, the jargon, and mount an often formidable legal defence. In the process they carve out a life for themselves. -- Selma James, from the Introduction
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LONDON: Thursday 30 June 4-5pm, House of Lords, Committee Room 4
Hosted by Lord Ramsbotham, Former HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
Speakers: -- Selma James, Crossroads Books editor, who wrote the introduction to the UK edition of Jailhouse Lawyers -- John Hirst, ex-prisoner, who won the European Court decision for prisoners’ right to vote -- Flo Krause, barrister, who represented John Hirst in the European Court -- Ian Macdonald QC, who wrote the letter to the US court on racism in Abu-Jamal’s trial signed by over 100 UK lawyers -- Emmanuel De Silva II, jailhouse lawyer -- Benjamin Zephaniah, poet, ex-prisoner -- Niki Adams, Legal Action for Women.

MANCHESTER: Friday 1 July 7pm, Friends Meeting House, (Room 2), Mount St
Manchester M2 5NS, with Selma James and Ian Macdonald, QC.

LIVERPOOL: Saturday 2 July, 2pm, News from Nowhere Bookshop, 96 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4HY. Readings and informal conversation with Selma James.

All events wheelchair accessible, News from Nowhere event has accessible toilets in arts centre nearby.


ORDER JAILHOUSE LAWYERS:

Order on line at  http://allwomencount.net/Publications/Forsalepage.htm or send your order to:  crossroadsbooks@allwomencount.net or by post to Crossroads Books, PO Box 287 London NW6 5QU

Please send me ______ copies of Jailhouse Lawyers. I attach a cheque or postal order for ___________ made out to Crossroads Books. Price: £11.99 (plus 10% for p&p)

Bulk orders: 3 copies £30, 6 copies £55
Free to prisoners. Donations welcome to help cover costs.

For more information:  crossroadsbooks@allwomencount.net Tel: 020 7482 2496