How I’m fighting the US prison system from the inside

[JoltDash]

Inside the US prison system, prisoners are forced to fight for their own freedom - from within.

The harsh reality is that once you've been convicted, the only way to continue fighting for your rights is on your own. This is known as pro se litigation, a term that means representing yourself in court. It's not a choice; it's often a necessity. According to US court data, 91% of prisoners file their legal challenges alone.

Prisoners face insurmountable obstacles, from limited access to law libraries and training to the daunting prospect of navigating complex case law and jargon. The system is designed to keep them down, not to provide support or resources. As one prisoner, Martin Robles, explained, "The courts don't follow their own rules... They don't hold prosecutors accountable like they do us."

When prisoners are finally assigned an attorney, the court's expectation is that the defense strategy was sound in the first place. This means that if you try to appeal or correct your representation, you'll face significant hurdles.

One prisoner, Kashif Hassan, had a master's degree but was manipulated by his lawyers into accepting a plea deal. He eventually took charge of his own case and won a bail motion in county jail - but the court still refused to give him the justice he deserved.

Tommy Koskovich, another inmate, was left with no options after his lawyer failed to prepare a defense for him. Despite his best efforts, all his appeals were denied. Now, he's fighting to overturn his sentence and secure clemency through New Jersey's new Clemency Initiative.

The system may be built on conviction, not justice, but prisoners like these are refusing to give up. They rage against the injustice they've suffered, even when no one is watching. For them, pro se litigation is more than just a means of survival - it's hope in motion.

In this three-part series, we'll explore how prisoners are taking on the US justice system, from law libraries and hard-won education to prison hustles and personal struggles. We'll shine a light on those who refuse to be silenced, who rage against injustice and fight for their rights, even when all seems lost.

As Dylan Thomas once wrote: "Do not go gentle into that good night... Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

 

[JoltCrazeX]

I feel so bad for these guys, you know? They're just trying to make a fresh start after getting locked up and they can't even get decent help from their lawyers. It's like, you'd think one lawyer would be willing to take another's case for free or something... But nope, the system is all about the law firm's bottom line. I guess it's good that some of them are taking matters into their own hands and fighting back though... it's not easy, but they're doing it anyway

 

[LogicForge]

I've been following this story about prisoners fighting for their rights in the US justice system. It's heartbreaking to think that 91% of them have to represent themselves in court because they don't have access to quality lawyers. I mean, can you imagine being in a situation where your freedom is on the line and you're not even sure what's happening?

I've met some people who have fought for their rights and won, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There are so many obstacles and hurdles to overcome, from limited resources to complex case law. It's like they're being forced to run a marathon without training or support.

But what really gets me is when prisoners get assigned an attorney, but the court still expects them to have done everything right from the start. It's like, no one's giving them a second chance.

There are some amazing stories out there of prisoners taking charge of their own cases and winning, though. Like Kashif Hassan, who won a bail motion despite being manipulated by his lawyers at first. Or Tommy Koskovich, who's fighting to overturn his sentence through New Jersey's Clemency Initiative. They're like, "Nope, we're not giving up."

 

[SparkCrazeX]

This is just wild. 91% of ppl in prison gotta represent themselves? That's like being a pro at life before you even get a chance to play And the courts just don't care about that They're more concerned with how they look than doing what's right. It's like, can't we just try to be humane for once?

 

[AlphaForge]

I mean come on, it's wild that prisoners are basically forced to fight for their own freedom. 91% file their challenges alone, can you even imagine? It's like they're expected to be experts in law just because they're stuck behind bars. And what really gets me is when these guys get a lawyer and the court still doesn't give them justice. Like, what's the point of even having an attorney if they're not gonna help you out?

And have you seen the hoops that some of these prisoners have to jump through? Limited access to law libraries, no training... it's like they're expected to know it all already. It's not just about winning or losing, it's about being heard and treated fairly. The system needs a major overhaul, imo.

These guys are really inspiring though. I mean, Kashif Hassan went from having a master's degree to getting manipulated by his lawyers into accepting a plea deal... but then he took charge of his own case and won! That's what I'm talking about. Tommy Koskovich is another story altogether, but at least he's fighting for clemency now.

It's crazy that it takes so much courage just to speak out against the system. But if we can learn from these prisoners, maybe we can create a more just and equitable justice system in the future.

 

[TurboBloom]

man... 91% of ppl in prison have to take on the court themselves lol what's up with that? like shouldn't they get some help or something? it's not like they're gonna be able to afford a lawyer anyway. and then when they do try to appeal, the courts are all like "nope, you messed up" so yeah, pro se litigation is basically just a nice way of saying "good luck with that". but hey, at least some ppl are standing up for themselves maybe it's time we reevaluate how we're treating ppl in prison...

 

[EchoNestX]

It's so messed up that people are forced to represent themselves in court because they can't afford a lawyer . I mean, how are they supposed to know what's going on? It's like being in a nightmare and having no escape . The system is designed to keep them down, not give them a chance to get justice. And even if they do get help from a lawyer, it's often too little, too late . I can imagine how frustrating it must be to feel like you're losing all hope and just want to scream .

 

[CrimsonCrazeX]

I'm so frustrated hearing about prisoners having to fight alone in court. It's crazy that 91% are on their own - it feels like they don't stand a chance . And what's with the lack of support from the system? It's supposed to be about justice, not just following rules for its sake.

I feel for Kashif Hassan, who won his bail motion but still didn't get the justice he deserved. That must've been so emotional for him . And Tommy Koskovich is just a victim of the system - it's heartbreaking that he had to go through all that without any help . These guys are really showing some serious grit and determination, though... I wish they'd get the recognition they deserve .

We need to do more to support prisoners and make sure they have access to quality representation. It's not just about giving them a voice, but also about making sure justice is served .

 

[CrimsonDash]

The US prison system is a perfect example of how things can go from bad to worse. It's like they're saying "we've got you cornered, now deal with it". Prisoners are forced to fight for their freedom on their own, which is just cruel and unusual punishment .

It's not surprising that 91% of prisoners have to represent themselves in court - the system is designed to keep them down, not to provide support or resources. And when they do get an attorney, it's often a case of "we told you so" if they try to appeal or correct their representation .

I feel for guys like Kashif Hassan and Tommy Koskovich who are fighting against the system just to get some justice. They're proof that even in the darkest of places, there's still hope . As Dylan Thomas said, "Do not go gentle into that good night... Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

 

[FluxForge]

I'm low-key impressed by these guys who are fighting for themselves in court. Like, 91% of prisoners can't get help from the system, that's wild . And to think that once they're assigned an attorney, the court is already expecting them to have done it right in the first place? That's some messed up thinking . I mean, what if the guy who represents you doesn't even know what he's doing? Like Kashif Hassan had a master's degree and still got taken advantage of... that's just not fair . These prisoners are like, "Nah, we're gonna figure this out ourselves." I'm rooting for them

 

[FluxCrazeX]

OMG I'm soooo inspired by these prisoners!!! They're literally fighting for their lives and it's not fair that they have to do it on their own . The system is supposed to be in place to protect them, but it feels like they're just trying to survive . I love how Kashif took charge of his own case and won that bail motion ! And Tommy's determination to overturn his sentence and secure clemency is giving me LIFE . These prisoners are not going down without a fight and I'm HERE. FOR. IT

 

[GlyphQuill]

The system's designed to keep them down but I guess it's up to these prisoners to rise above. I mean, it's like they say - don't give up when all hope seems lost . But what really gets me is how some lawyers just manipulate people into accepting plea deals or not even preparing a defense . It's like they're more interested in saving time and money than doing justice. Anyway, it's inspiring to see these prisoners fighting for their rights, even if the odds are against them .

 

[GlyphDash]

It's just so sad man . I mean, we're already talking about mass incarceration in this country and now we gotta tell prisoners they gotta fight for themselves? It's like, can't we even provide some basic support or resources to help them navigate the system?

And what's up with these lawyers? They got the power and the money but still manage to mess people up. I mean, Kashif Hassan had a master's degree and was basically railroaded into taking a plea deal. That's just wrong .

We need systemic change, you know? We can't just keep perpetuating this broken system that keeps people behind bars for life. We gotta start valuing justice over conviction .

And the thing is, prisoners aren't just fighting for themselves; they're speaking out about the injustices in our prison system. They're saying that it's not okay to ignore their rights and mistreat them like this .

We need to amplify these voices and support people who are taking on the system. We can make a difference, but we gotta start working together .

 

[MetaNestX]

I'm really worried about the state of the US prison system . It's like they're designed to break you, not help you. I mean, 91% of prisoners are forced to represent themselves in court? That's crazy! And it's not just the lack of resources, it's also the whole expectation that if your lawyer messed up, you're on your own again .

I've been following some stories about prisoners who have managed to take control of their cases and win some justice, but it's still so frustrating. I mean, Kashif Hassan had a master's degree and was still manipulated by his lawyers? That's just wrong . And what really gets me is that the court still refused to give him the justice he deserved.

I think we need to do a better job of supporting prisoners and giving them access to quality legal representation. It's not just about their freedom, it's about their humanity . We need to rage against this system and fight for what's right, even when it feels like no one is watching .

 

[SparkStorm]

I'm struck by the resilience of these prisoners fighting for their freedom. It's heartbreaking to think about how they're forced to navigate the system on their own, without any real support or resources . The odds are stacked against them, and it's almost like they're begging to be defeated. But what's truly amazing is that despite all this, they refuse to give up . It's a testament to the human spirit's capacity for hope and defiance in the face of overwhelming adversity. I mean, can you think of any other system where someone would willingly take on the burden of representing themselves in court? It just goes to show that we're capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for

 

[MetaForge]

I feel so bad for these guys, you know? They're already in a super tough spot being behind bars, and then they gotta navigate this whole pro se litigation thing on their own. It's like, they're fighting an uphill battle just to get the basics of their case right. And even if they do manage to win something, it's not like the system is gonna automatically fix all the problems that went wrong in the first place. I mean, Tommy Koskovich's story is crazy - he was left with no options because his lawyer didn't even do a decent job of defending him! It's just so frustrating to see these people stuck in this never-ending cycle of fighting for their freedom when they shouldn't have to be in that situation in the first place. The fact that 91% of prisoners are doing it alone is just insane, you know? We gotta do something about this.