Michigan Courts Self-Help Center, the Michigan Supreme Court's collection of information and documents concerning access to the state courts.

Access to Justice: Michigan Legal Help Websites, July, 2005 article written by SADO staff attorney, Randy Davidson.

Consumer's Guide to Legal Help, the ABA's collection of information about lawyer referral and legal aid services, as well as self-representation options.

Circuit Court Benchbook Michigan Judicial Institute.

Contempt of Court Benchbook, Michigan Judicial Institute.

Criminal Procedure Monograph Series, Michigan Judicial Institute.

Domestic Violence Benchbook, Michigan Judicial Institute.

Juvenile Justice Benchbook: Delinquency & Criminal Proceedings, Michigan Judicial Institute.

Sexual Assault Benchbook, Michigan Judicial Institute. Chapter 11 contains a good overview of the Sex Offenders Registration Act.

State of Michigan Sentencing Guidelines Manual   (http://courts.michigan.gov/)
Published by the Michigan Judicial Institute (MJI)  
 
The Sentencing Guidelines Manual is a comprehensive but concise resource for the proper application and scoring of the statutory sentencing guidelines. It has been prepared as an aid for those who use the guidelines enacted by the Michigan Legislature.

Legislative Sentencing Guidelines Cases, Anne Yantus, December, 2008.

Judicial Guidelines, covering sentencing for state offenses committed from October 1, 1988 through September 30, 1998.

2009 Federal Sentencing Guidelines   (http://www.ussc.gov)
This manual contains the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements effective November 1, 2009.

Know Your Rights: The Presentence Report, a brief guide to the procedure and contents of presentence reports, prepared by the American Friends Service Committee.

How to Seek Judicial Review of Your Felony Conviction and Sentence, a guide for Michigan defendants prepared by the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System, updated to September, 2006. This plain-English guide provides an explanation of appellate procedure through state and federal courts, limited to appeals of state felony convictions. Coverage includes appeals by right and by leave, motions for relief from judgment, federal habeas corpus petitions, and parole appeals. Other useful information includes quick tips for self-representation and important addresses.

Clemency for Battered Women in Michigan: A Manual for Attorneys, Law Students and Social Workers (Michigan ACLU, October, 1998). The manual provides both an overview of the process and the tools needed to prepare clemency petitions. Considerable attention is given to battered womens' syndrome and the admissibility of expert testimony on the subject, generally offered in support of a self-defense claim. Assuming appellate relief is unavailing, the clemency process is described from the point of client interviewing through writing an effective petition. A collection of helpful resources includes sample forms, articles, rules, interview questions, and bibliography. [CAUTION: the Web version of the manual does not include appendices. The appendices can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format.]

Appellants Pro Per Manual (Michigan Court of Appeals)

Appellees Pro Per Manual (Michigan Court of Appeals)

Guide for Prospective Indigent Petitioners for Writs of Certiorari, Office of the Clerk, Supreme Court of the United States

Expungement: The Western Michigan Legal Services published in June of 2003, "Is Your Criminal Record Holding You Back? Tips on how to expunge your criminal record." This manual discusses eligibility to expunge a conviction or juvenile adjudication in Michigan. It features a short series of test questions, which, if answered in the negative, suggest the respondent may be eligible for an expungement.

United States Attorney's Manual, Department of Justice.

Delayed Application for Leave to Appeal, Pro Per (prepared by PLSM, 2003). View document. Download instructions and form in Microsoft Word.

Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit, United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan

Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus Under 28 U.S.C. Sec 2254 by a Person in State Custody, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Petition under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody, United States District Court, Western District of Michigan

Pro-Se Appellant's Brief, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Interlocutory Appeal package.

6.500 Motion package.

Access to Justice: Michigan Legal Help Websites, July, 2005 article written by SADO staff attorney, Randy Davidson.

Michigan: Immigrant Service Provider Reference Guide, complied by the Diocese of Kalamazoo Immigration Assistance Program, Fall, 2004.

Child Support Manuals: An informative manual was prepared by Western Michigan Legal Services. "How Can I Pay Child Support If I'm Locked Up?" was prepared in July 2003, offering important insight on the rights and obligations of a parent who is, was, or might become incarcerated. Subtopics include: "What Happens If You Get Behind on Child Support," "Why You Should File a Motion to Reduce Child Support as Soon as You Get Locked Up," "What to Do If You Already Owe Back Support From When You Were Locked Up," and "How Reducing Support Payments Affects Your Parental Rights." The manual also includes a sample agreement to forgive child support.

Child Protective Proceedings Benchbook: Abuse & Neglect Cases, Michigan Judicial Institute.

Know your rights: Employment, a quick guide to re-entry information, directed to persons with a criminal conviction (State Bar of Michigan, 2008)
Immigration, need-to-know information, directed to persons with a criminal conviction (State Bar of Michigan, 2008)
Client questionaire

Prison & Jail Issues: