Court-Ready Writing Support.
We help incarcerated individuals and their families say what matters, clearly and professionally, to the court.
- Letters to judges
- $25
- Character letters
- $25
- Appeal letters
- $50
- Clemency package
- $100
Clemency timeline set after intake.
About Us
Justice Writing Project exists so that no one's words are lost because of how they were written.
Every day, people facing the court have something important to say about accountability, change, and the future they're building. Too often, it doesn't come across clearly. We help incarcerated individuals and their families put those words into clear, respectful, professional writing that judges and decision-makers can hear.
Our mission: to make court-ready writing support accessible, affordable, and human.
What we believe
- Everyone deserves to be heard clearly.
- Your story should stay in your own voice.
- Families should have support, not confusion.
Know What You're Writing Before You Write It.
Each document has a different job. Open a guide to see who writes it, when it's used, and what makes it land.
Letter to a judge
Written by the person facing the court
What it is
A personal letter to the judge on your case, usually before sentencing or alongside a motion. It lets the judge hear from you directly, beyond the case file.
Before you send
If you have a lawyer, share the letter with them first. Many prefer letters go through them.
What makes it strong
- Address it to "The Honorable [Judge's full name]."
- Take responsibility in your own words. Don't argue the facts of the case.
- Show change with specifics: classes, jobs, sobriety, family.
- Share a real plan for the future.
- Keep it to one or two pages, respectful and calm.
Character letter
Written by family, employers, mentors, clergy
What it is
A letter from someone who knows the person well, showing the court who they are outside the charge. Several honest letters from different parts of someone's life carry real weight.
Who should write one
People with a real, specific connection: a parent, a boss, a coach, a pastor, a coworker, a neighbor.
What makes it strong
- Say who you are and how long you've known them.
- Tell one or two specific stories, not general praise.
- Acknowledge you know about the charge. Don't dispute it.
- Explain how you'll support them going forward.
- Sign it and include your contact information.
Appeal letter
Asking for a decision to be reconsidered
What it is
A written request asking that a decision be reviewed again, such as a facility, parole or administrative decision. It needs to be organized, factual and easy to follow.
Watch the deadline
Appeals often have strict time limits and required forms. Confirm yours before anything else.
What makes it strong
- Name the exact decision, date and any reference number.
- State clearly what you're asking for.
- Lay out your reasons in order, one point at a time.
- Stick to facts you can support. Attach proof.
- Stay respectful, even when you disagree.
Clemency package
A request to the President or a governor, for federal and state cases
What it is
Clemency asks an executive, not a court, for mercy. Commutation shortens a sentence. Pardon forgives a conviction.
Federal cases
Petitions go to the President through the Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney. Commutation is for people still in federal prison or on supervision. A pardon generally requires waiting five years after release. Forms are free at justice.gov/pardon.
State cases
Petitions go to the governor or a state pardon or parole board, depending on the state. Every state has its own forms, eligibility rules and deadlines, and some hold hearings.
Before you start
Petitions often aren't considered while an appeal or court motion is pending. Applying is free. Our fee covers writing and preparation.
What goes in the package
- The official petition form, federal or state, answered fully and truthfully.
- A personal statement in your own voice.
- Proof of rehabilitation: prison progress report, program certificates, work history.
- Court records, like the judgment.
- A release plan: housing, job, support system.
- Support letters from family, employers, mentors and clergy.
What to expect
The written package carries most of the weight. Review can take months or years, and the final decision belongs to the President, governor or board.
Do
- Write in your own voice. Honest beats fancy.
- Use specific examples and dates.
- Keep it short and organized.
- Proofread names, case numbers and titles.
Don't
- Blame the victim, witnesses or the system.
- Argue guilt or re-try the case.
- Exaggerate or promise things you can't keep.
- Use slang, all caps or angry language.
How it works.
Three steps. We review with proven AI tools plus human review for clarity, tone, structure and presentation.
1. Submit payment
Zelle: hello@justicewritingproject.com
Cash App: $justicewriting
Memo: your full name + services requested.
2. Send your letter
Incarcerated individuals: send a CorrLinks contact request to hello@justicewritingproject.com. Once we accept, type your letter directly with clear instructions. Have your own email? You can email us instead.
Family and representatives: email hello@justicewritingproject.com and attach documents on their behalf.
3. Get it back
Your polished letter comes back digitally within one business day, by CorrLinks or email. That's included in your fee.
Need it today? Add same-day rush for $20. Your letter must be in by 12 PM EST.
Need a physical copy? Add $20. We complete it in one business day and ship it USPS Priority Mail. USPS sets the delivery time, so we can't guarantee when it arrives.
Clemency packages take longer, since we wait on records and support letters. We set your timeline after intake.
Services and prices.
Flat rates. No hidden fees.
Clemency packages: timeline set after intake.
Everything is delivered digitally. Physical copies ship USPS Priority Mail. Delivery time is set by USPS and can't be guaranteed.
Questions.
Are you lawyers?
No. We're a writing service. We improve clarity, tone, grammar and structure. For legal strategy or advice, talk to an attorney.
Can you write the letter from scratch?
Send us your draft, notes or even rough bullet points. We shape your words into a clear, professional letter that still sounds like you.
How do I reach you from inside?
Send a CorrLinks contact request to hello@justicewritingproject.com. We'll accept it, then you can type your letter and instructions directly in the message. If you have your own email, you can email us instead.
Can a family member handle everything?
Yes. Family members and representatives can pay, email the letter and attachments, and receive the finished version on the person's behalf.
Do you use AI?
Yes. We use proven AI tools alongside human review, so every letter is checked by a person before it goes back to you.
What's in the clemency writing package?
We write and polish the narrative parts of your petition: your answers to the DOJ form, your personal statement, a case summary, a rehabilitation summary and your release plan. Then we organize everything into a clean, ready-to-submit package.
Who can use the clemency service?
Anyone with a federal or state conviction, whether still serving or finished with their sentence. Federal cases go to the President. State cases go to the governor or a state board, and each state has its own forms and rules.
Do I have to pay to apply for clemency?
No. Federal forms are free at justice.gov/pardon, and states provide their own forms, typically through the governor's office or state board. Our fee is for writing and preparation support only.
Are you connected to the DOJ, the White House or any state?
No. We are not affiliated with the Department of Justice, the Office of the Pardon Attorney, the White House or any governor's office or state board. Anyone who claims they can fast-track clemency is not telling you the truth.
Can you guarantee clemency?
No. The decision belongs to the President for federal cases, and to the governor or state board for state cases. Review can take months or years.
Do you submit the petition for me?
No. You review it, confirm every fact is true, sign it and submit it yourself. False statements on a petition can be a federal crime.
What if I have an appeal or court motion pending?
Clemency petitions generally aren't accepted while a court challenge is pending. Tell us up front so we can talk about timing.
What do I need to send for clemency?
Your judgment, prison progress report, program certificates, disciplinary history, release plan details and your own words about your case. Family members can gather and email these on your behalf.
Can you write support letters for my family?
Support letters must be in the writer's own words. We can polish their draft for clarity, but we can't write it for them to sign as their own.
Can I get a physical copy mailed?
Yes, for $20. Everything is delivered digitally first. Physical copies ship by USPS Priority Mail. Delivery time is set by USPS, so we can't guarantee when it arrives or prevent USPS delays.
What is your refund policy?
All payments are final. We don't offer refunds once payment is received, for any service, including the clemency package and same-day rush. Have questions? Email hello@justicewritingproject.com before you pay.
What is your privacy policy?
What we collect. Your name and contact info, the incarcerated person's name, register number, age, sex and race, the letters and documents you send us, and payment details from Zelle or Cash App. We never see or store your card or bank numbers.
How we use it. Only to deliver the writing services you request and to contact you about your order.
AI tools. Your documents may be processed with AI writing tools as part of our review. Every letter is also reviewed by a person.
Who we share it with. No one. We never sell your information.
CorrLinks and prison mail. Messages sent through CorrLinks or facility mail are monitored by the facility. Don't send anything you wouldn't want staff to read.
This website. When you submit a request, your details are delivered to our inbox through a secure form-delivery service. We don't sell or reuse this information.
Your choices. Want your documents deleted? Email hello@justicewritingproject.com and we'll delete them.
Last updated: September 29, 2026.
What if I need changes?
Additional revision rounds are $25 each. Tell us exactly what you want changed.
Questions? Talk to us.
Not sure which letter you need, or how to get started? Reach out and we'll point you in the right direction.
Justice Writing Project is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or representation. Services are limited to writing support only. Results are not guaranteed.
Not affiliated with the Department of Justice, the Office of the Pardon Attorney, the White House or any state governor's office or board. Anyone can apply for clemency for free: federal forms at justice.gov/pardon, state forms through your state. Our fee is for writing and preparation support.
