Self-Help Resources


Reentry Overview:


The 2020 edition of the Reentry Guidebook was developed by SADO’s Project Reentry. Reentry back into the community for any formerly incarcerated person can be difficult and can be especially difficult for individuals who serve lengthy incarceration stays. Individuals coming home from prison or jail need assistance with identifying community support, learning how to use technology, developing skills to manage finances, finding reliable transportation or obtaining a driver’s license, applying for public benefits, finding employment and housing, and much more.

The Reentry Guidebook attempts to capture the basic information needed to navigate the sometimes-complicated procedures for obtaining basic needs, such as housing, identification, employment, and education. We hope our client population, and those supporting and serving them, will find this Guidebook useful. A printed copy can be purchased for $5.00.


For Families and Friends of the Incarcerated:


What happens after your loved one has been convicted of a crime? We welcome you to attend a Family and Friends Informational Session to learn more about appeals and life after incarceration. View the information packet prepared by SADO’s Client and Public Outreach Committee, which addresses the following topics:

  • The process of a criminal appeal
  • Visiting a prison (policies of the MDOC)
  • Communicating with a prisoner of the MDOC
  • Basic resources for prisoners and their loved ones

Innocence Resources:


Wayne County Prosecutor Office Conviction Integrity Unit: Apply for review of a Wayne County Conviction using this application form.

Michigan Innocence Clinic
University of Michigan Law School
701 S. State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-3091
Phone: 734.763.9353
Fax: 734.764.8242

WMU-Cooley Innocence Project
300 South Capitol Avenue
Lansing, Michigan 48933
Phone: (517) 371-5140
Email: innocence@cooley.edu


Sex Offender Registration Act:

Veteran Rights:


Preparing for Parole:


Appeals in Michigan State Courts:


Expungement and Clean Slate: Contact the Lakeshore Legal Aid Hotline at: 888-783-8190. Attorneys are available to give advice.


Civil Litigation:


Information and Forms for People without an attorney in Federal Court and in the Eastern District of Michigan:


Western District of Michigan:


United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit:


United States Supreme Court: