Most cases by prisoners filed in federal court involve:

• Complaints about the conditions of their confinement under 42 U.S.C. § 1983;
• Petitions and Instructions for writs of habeas corpus under: 28 U.S.C § 2241 or 28 U.S.C. § 2254; or
• Motions for habeas corpus relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255
• Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis by a Prisoner

For information, instructions and/or a form to file one of these prisoner cases, click on the appropriate link above.

You should not rely on this information or these forms as a substitute for the advice of a lawyer. Neither the clerk nor court staff may give you any legal advice.

This webpage is intended to be an informative and practical resource for understanding the basic procedures of the court. The statements on this webpage do not constitute legal advice and may not be cited as legal authority. This webpage does not take the place of the Federal Rules, this court's Local Rules, or the individual practices of the judges of this court. All parties using this webpage remain responsible for complying with all applicable rules of procedure. If there is any conflict between the information on this webpage and the applicable rules, the rules govern.