Target Audience: All librarians interested in greater access to legal materials
Learning Outcomes:
1) Participants will be able to connect with nonprofit organizations working to improve access to legal materials for immigration detainees.
2) Participants will be able to identify the obstacles to library access for immigration detainees.
In 2010, approximately 363,000 foreign nationals were held in civil detention in the United States. About half of the detainees were held in privately run prisons. Unlike those who have been charged with a crime, they have no right to free legal counsel and do not have the same access to legal materials that are enjoyed by those who are charged with or have been convicted of crimes. The speakers will describe the current state of access to legal materials for immigration detainees, identify the ABA nonbinding standards for access to legal materials, and inform participants of efforts in the library and legal communities to improve access to legal information for persons in immigration detention.