Navigating the Justice System: National Resources for Families

When a loved one living with schizophrenia or a severe mental illness becomes involved with the criminal legal system, the emotional and logistical burden on caregivers can feel overwhelming. You do not have to carry this weight alone.

Below is a curated list of national organizations dedicated to supporting, guiding, and advocating for the families, friends, and partners of individuals who are justice-involved or currently incarcerated.

🏢 Major National Organizations & Support Networks

• Prison Families Alliance (PFA)
  • What they do: Provides a safe, non-judgmental space for families, partners, and caregivers impacted by a loved one's incarceration.
  • How they help caregivers: PFA hosts peer-led support meetings, provides practical navigation tools for the correctional system, and runs a youth connection club specifically to support children through the trauma of separation.
• Prison Fellowship
  
  • What they do: Focuses on justice reform and providing robust support systems for the families and children left behind.
  • How they help caregivers: They offer downloadable coping guides that outline exactly what to expect during an arrest or sentencing. They also run the Angel Tree program, which coordinates Christmas gifts, summer camps, and mentoring for children of incarcerated parents.
• Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM)
  • What they do: A powerful national network of civil rights organizations led entirely by affected families and formerly incarcerated individuals.
  • How they help caregivers: FICPFM channels the collective voice of families into legislative and judicial advocacy. They work directly in communities to organize, provide resources, and fight for systemic reform.
• National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated (NRCCFI)
  
  • What they do: Hosted by Rutgers University, this organization focuses on minimizing the unique trauma experienced by children and families when a loved one is incarcerated.
  • How they help caregivers: They maintain an extensive, searchable national directory of local programs across the U.S., publish educational toolkits, and offer specialized fact sheets for caregivers navigating the prison system.
• Project Avary
  
  • What they do: Dedicated exclusively to the long-term mentorship, emotional safety, and community building of children with an incarcerated parent.
  • How they help caregivers: Project Avary facilitates national, online peer support groups led by individuals with lived experience. This offers children a vital space to heal, speak freely, and break the cycle of generational trauma.