User Agreement & Terms of Use

FIRST, THE PLAIN-LANGUAGE VERSION

We do not want you to need a law degree to understand the rules for using this website.

The Prison Humanity Project exists to make reentry less confusing.

We provide practical information, planning tools, resource navigation, educational materials, and technology designed to help people preparing to leave incarceration, people who have already returned home, their families, and people trying to help them.

There are a few important things you need to understand.

TPHP IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT

The Prison Humanity Project is not the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a state department of corrections, a jail, probation or parole office, court, benefits agency, housing authority, Social Security Administration, motor vehicle agency, or other government agency.

We cannot change your sentence, release date, supervision conditions, eligibility determination, custody status, benefits decision, driver’s license status, housing approval, or any other government decision.

TPHP IS NOT YOUR LAWYER

Nothing on this website creates an attorney-client relationship.

TPHP does not provide legal representation and the TPHP Helper is not a lawyer.

Information about sentencing, First Step Act credits, parole, probation, warrants, detainers, home confinement, criminal records, expungement, driver’s license restoration, court requirements, or other legal matters is educational information only.

Important legal decisions should be confirmed with a qualified attorney, court, supervising authority, or appropriate government agency.

TPHP IS NOT YOUR DOCTOR OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

Information about healthcare, mental health, substance-use treatment, insurance, Medicaid, medication, disability, or related subjects is informational and resource-oriented.

It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

THE TPHP HELPER USES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The TPHP Helper is an AI-powered reentry navigation tool.

It is not a live TPHP staff member.

The Helper may ask questions about your situation, organize the information you provide, identify possible needs, locate resources, suggest next steps, prepare scripts for calls, explain processes, and create a personalized reentry plan or packet.

AI can make mistakes.

Do not treat an AI-generated answer as an official government determination, court order, professional opinion, eligibility decision, or guarantee.

THE VOICE MAY SOUND LIKE A REAL PERSON BECAUSE IT IS DESIGNED TO

TPHP Helper voice mode may use an authorized synthetic or cloned human voice.

Hearing that voice does not mean you are speaking live with the person whose voice you hear.

It is still the TPHP Helper operating through artificial intelligence and speech technology.

“VERIFIED” DOES NOT MEAN “GUARANTEED”

When TPHP identifies a resource as verified, it means we had a reasonable basis to confirm important information about that resource at the time it was reviewed.

Programs change.

Funding ends.

Phone numbers change.

Eligibility rules change.

Beds fill.

Transportation programs stop accepting people.

Organizations close.

A verified resource is not a promise that the organization will accept you, have funding available, have an opening, or provide the same service forever.

Whenever possible, call before traveling somewhere.

YOUR PERSONALIZED PACKET IS A PLAN, NOT AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT

A TPHP personalized plan or resource packet is created to help you understand what to do next.

It is not a court document, release plan approved by corrections, parole plan, government benefits determination, medical plan, legal opinion, or guarantee of services.

The quality of the plan also depends on the information you provide.

If you provide the wrong county, release date, license status, housing situation, supervision information, or other important information, the resulting plan may also be wrong.

DO NOT GIVE THE HELPER INFORMATION IT DOES NOT NEED

Please do not submit:

• Social Security numbers
• Passwords
• Bank account numbers
• Credit or debit card numbers
• PIN numbers
• Complete driver’s license numbers
• Account login information
• Security-question answers
• Other highly sensitive information that is not necessary to help with your request

You normally do not need to give TPHP those things in order to receive reentry help.

FULL TERMS OF USE

1. ABOUT THE PRISON HUMANITY PROJECT

The Prison Humanity Project, also referred to in these Terms as “TPHP,” “we,” “our,” or “us,” provides educational information, reentry navigation, planning tools, resource information, downloadable guides, personalized planning materials, accessibility tools, and related services.

Our purpose is to make the transition home after incarceration less confusing and less overwhelming by turning complicated systems and scattered information into practical tools people can actually use.

We provide information and navigation assistance.

We do not control the agencies, organizations, programs, companies, courts, correctional systems, employers, landlords, healthcare providers, or service providers discussed through the Services.

2. WHO MAY USE THE SERVICES

The Services are primarily designed for:

• People preparing for release from incarceration
• Formerly incarcerated people
• Family members
• Friends and support people
• Reentry professionals
• Advocates
• Service providers
• People attempting to understand or navigate reentry systems

Children under 13 should not directly provide personal information through the TPHP Helper.

If information concerning a child is necessary to help an adult user understand a family or reentry issue, provide only information reasonably necessary for that purpose.

3. TPHP HELPER AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

TPHP Helper uses artificial intelligence and related technology.

The Helper may:

• Ask questions
• Interpret information supplied by the user
• Organize reentry needs
• Identify possible barriers
• Prioritize next steps
• Search or retrieve resource information
• Suggest organizations
• Prepare call scripts
• Explain processes
• Create checklists
• Generate personalized reentry plans
• Create downloadable packets
• Read information aloud
• Interact through text or voice

The Helper is designed to assist with navigation and planning.

It does not replace qualified human professionals where professional judgment is required.

AI-generated responses may contain mistakes, misunderstand a user’s circumstances, rely on incomplete information, or become outdated.

Users should independently confirm information when a mistake could have serious legal, financial, medical, housing, supervision, benefits, or other consequences.

4. VOICE MODE AND SPEECH TECHNOLOGY

TPHP may provide voice-based access so users can receive help without needing to type or read.

When you activate voice mode and grant microphone permission, you authorize the microphone access and audio processing reasonably necessary to understand your speech and provide a response.

Voice mode may use third-party speech-recognition, speech-generation, artificial-intelligence, hosting, or related technology providers.

Audio, transcripts, and generated speech may be processed as reasonably necessary to provide the requested functionality and as further explained by the TPHP Privacy Policy.

TPHP Helper may respond using a synthetic, computer-generated, or authorized cloned human voice.

This voice may sound like an identifiable real person.

The use of that voice does not mean that person is participating live in the conversation.

Voice mode is an interface for the TPHP Helper.

5. NO PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP

Use of TPHP does not create:

• An attorney-client relationship
• A doctor-patient relationship
• A therapist-client relationship
• A financial-advisor relationship
• A social-worker/client relationship
• A formal case-management relationship
• A probation or parole relationship
• A government-agency relationship

Communications with the TPHP Helper are not protected by attorney-client privilege, doctor-patient privilege, therapist privilege, or similar professional privileges merely because sensitive information is discussed.

6. CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND RELEASE INFORMATION

TPHP may explain criminal-justice and reentry concepts.

However, TPHP does not determine or guarantee:

• Release dates
• Sentence computations
• Good-time credits
• Earned-time credits
• First Step Act credits
• Parole eligibility
• Probation requirements
• Supervised-release conditions
• Halfway-house placement
• Residential Reentry Center placement
• Community-confinement placement
• Home confinement
• Detainer status
• Warrant status
• Disciplinary consequences
• Court deadlines
• Restoration of rights
• Expungement eligibility
• Record-sealing eligibility

Official records and decisions from the responsible court, correctional authority, supervising agency, or other government authority control.

When the consequences matter, verify the information with the appropriate official source or qualified professional.

7. RESOURCE INFORMATION

TPHP works to provide useful and current reentry resources.

Resources may include organizations providing assistance with:

• Identification
• Birth certificates
• Social Security documents
• Driver’s licenses
• Housing
• Emergency shelter
• Employment
• Job training
• Education
• Transportation
• Food
• Benefits
• Healthcare
• Mental health
• Substance-use treatment
• Clothing
• Phones
• Family reunification
• Legal assistance
• Supervision support
• Financial assistance
• Other reentry needs

TPHP does not operate most of the programs listed in our resource system.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, inclusion of an organization does not mean TPHP owns, controls, supervises, or guarantees that organization.

Eligibility and availability are determined by the provider.

8. WHAT “VERIFIED” MEANS

TPHP may label certain resources as “verified,” “TPHP verified,” or with similar language.

For TPHP purposes, verification means that we had a reasonable basis at the time of review to believe important resource information was accurate.

Verification may come from:

• Direct communication with the organization
• Information supplied by an authorized representative
• Official government information
• An organization’s official published information
• Another reliable source reviewed by TPHP

Verification does NOT mean:

• Guaranteed acceptance
• Guaranteed funding
• Guaranteed availability
• Guaranteed housing
• Guaranteed transportation
• Guaranteed employment
• Guaranteed eligibility
• Permanent accuracy
• Endorsement of every activity of the organization

Users should contact providers directly when possible before relying on a resource.

9. PERSONALIZED REENTRY PLANS AND PACKETS

TPHP Helper may create a personalized resource plan or packet based on information supplied during a conversation.

These packets are intended to make complicated information easier to use.

A packet may include:

• Recommended next steps
• Phone numbers
• Addresses
• Resources
• Eligibility information
• Checklists
• Call scripts
• “What to Say” instructions
• Reminders
• Planning information

A personalized packet is not an official government, court, correctional, legal, medical, or benefits document.

TPHP does not guarantee that completing the steps in a packet will produce a particular result.

Users remain responsible for confirming important information directly with the organization or agency responsible for the decision.

10. ACCESSIBILITY

TPHP is intentionally designed to serve people with different levels of literacy, vision, technical ability, disability, and experience using computers or smartphones.

We may provide:

• Screen-reader-compatible content
• Read-aloud functions
• Voice navigation
• Large controls
• Icon-first navigation
• Accessible downloadable documents
• Simplified language
• Audio replay
• Keyboard navigation

TPHP works to make its Services accessible, but technology varies.

We cannot guarantee that every feature will function identically with every phone, browser, operating system, assistive technology, screen reader, PDF reader, or other third-party application.

If an accessibility feature does not work, users may use another available TPHP access method where possible.

11. USER INFORMATION AND PRIVACY

The TPHP Helper may process information users voluntarily provide in order to understand their request and provide appropriate assistance.

The collection, processing, retention, protection, and sharing of personal information is governed by the TPHP Privacy Policy.

Users should provide only information reasonably necessary to receive help.

Do not submit passwords, financial credentials, complete Social Security numbers, or other highly sensitive information unless TPHP specifically and legitimately requests it through an appropriate secure process.

12. DOCUMENTS AND USER-SUPPLIED CONTENT

If TPHP permits users to provide documents, text, information, or other materials, the user retains ownership of their materials.

Submitting material gives TPHP and the technology providers reasonably necessary to operate the Services limited permission to process that material for the purpose requested by the user.

TPHP does not obtain ownership of a user’s personal documents merely because they were provided to the Helper.

Users should not submit documents they do not have permission to use or share.

13. INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE

Users may sometimes seek help for a spouse, fiancé, child, parent, friend, incarcerated person, or other individual.

When discussing another person, provide only the information reasonably necessary to receive assistance.

Do not use TPHP to publicly expose, harass, impersonate, threaten, stalk, or unlawfully distribute another person’s private information.

14. THIRD-PARTY TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICE PROVIDERS

TPHP may rely on third-party providers for functions including:

• Website hosting
• Artificial intelligence
• Speech recognition
• Voice generation
• Document generation
• Mapping
• Communications
• Analytics
• Resource information
• Accessibility functionality

TPHP may also direct users to independent service providers.

Those third parties may have their own terms, eligibility requirements, privacy practices, availability, and service limitations.

TPHP is not responsible for decisions made by independent service providers.

15. NO GUARANTEE OF SERVICES

Finding an organization through TPHP does not guarantee:

• Admission
• Acceptance
• Funding
• An appointment
• A bed
• Employment
• Transportation
• Benefits
• Licensing
• Treatment
• Legal representation
• Housing
• Financial assistance
• Any other service

Providers make their own eligibility and service decisions.

16. EMERGENCIES

TPHP Helper is not an emergency-dispatch system and should not be relied upon for immediate emergency response.

If someone is in immediate danger or experiencing an emergency requiring immediate assistance, contact the appropriate local emergency service or qualified emergency provider.

Do not wait for a TPHP Helper response during an emergency.

17. ACCEPTABLE USE

You may use TPHP for legitimate personal, family, educational, professional, advocacy, and reentry-support purposes.

You may not intentionally use the Services to:

• Damage or disrupt the website
• Bypass security protections
• Obtain unauthorized access
• Distribute malware
• Unlawfully collect personal information
• Impersonate another person
• Commit fraud
• Threaten or harass people
• Exploit vulnerable users
• Interfere with other users
• Intentionally overwhelm or abuse AI or voice systems
• Use automated systems to consume excessive resources
• Use TPHP to facilitate unlawful activity

TPHP may restrict access when reasonably necessary to protect users, systems, resources, or the organization.

18. TPHP MATERIALS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Original TPHP guides, packets, graphics, writing, tools, branding, program materials, layouts, and other original content remain the property of TPHP or their respective rights holders.

TPHP encourages people to use our free resources for their intended purpose.

Unless otherwise stated, individuals, families, correctional staff, nonprofit organizations, reentry programs, and community organizations may print and share free TPHP educational resources for noncommercial reentry-support purposes.

You may not:

• Sell TPHP materials without permission
• Remove TPHP branding and present our work as your own
• Commercially republish substantial TPHP materials without permission
• Falsely claim partnership with or endorsement by TPHP
• Copy TPHP branding to impersonate the organization

19. USER-SUBMITTED RESOURCE INFORMATION

Users, organizations, and service providers may submit resources, corrections, updates, or other information to TPHP.

Submitting resource information gives TPHP permission to review, verify, organize, edit for clarity, publish, and use that information in our resource system.

Submission does not guarantee inclusion.

TPHP may remove or decline resources that cannot be adequately verified, are misleading, are no longer operating, appear unsafe, or do not fit the purpose of the resource system.

20. CHANGES TO RESOURCE INFORMATION

Resource information changes constantly.

TPHP may update, correct, add, remove, or reclassify resources without notice.

If you discover information that appears outdated or incorrect, we encourage you to report it through the available TPHP resource-reporting system.

21. SERVICE AVAILABILITY

We want TPHP to remain available, but we cannot promise uninterrupted access.

Features may temporarily become unavailable because of:

• Maintenance
• Hosting problems
• Internet outages
• Third-party outages
• AI-provider problems
• Speech-provider problems
• API usage or quota limits
• Software errors
• Security incidents
• Circumstances outside TPHP’s control

TPHP may modify, improve, replace, suspend, or discontinue features when reasonably necessary.

If a voice or AI feature becomes unavailable, other TPHP functions may remain available.

22. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

TPHP provides the Services in good faith to help users navigate complicated reentry systems.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, TPHP is not responsible for losses or damages caused solely by:

• Inaccurate or outdated third-party resource information
• Denial of services by an outside provider
• Reliance on an AI-generated response without appropriate verification
• Incorrect or incomplete information supplied by the user
• Changes made by government agencies or service providers
• Third-party website or technology failures
• Temporary technology failures
• Inability to access a particular program

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude liability that cannot legally be excluded.

23. NO ENDORSEMENT

Listing or recommending a resource does not necessarily mean TPHP endorses every practice, employee, position, program, policy, belief, or activity of that organization.

Our goal is to help users find potentially useful services.

24. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

TPHP may update these Terms as the organization, technology, laws, or Services change.

When significant changes are made, the effective date at the top of this document should be updated.

Continued use of the Services after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.

25. SEVERABILITY

If a provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the remaining provisions remain in effect to the extent permitted by law.

26. QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS

Questions about these Terms, TPHP resources, accessibility, or the Services may be submitted through the contact options provided by The Prison Humanity Project.