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By: Mia Forney ’25
As a dual degree JD/MSW student, I entered both programs knowing that I wanted to work with incarcerated populations to improve conditions of incarceration and advocate for their civil and human rights through a person-centered, trauma-informed lens – thereby blending the tools and values of both disciplines. Fortunately, I was able to spend my 1L summer interning at Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York (PLSNY), an organization that does just that.
PLSNY is a non-profit, civil legal organization that was established after the Attica Prison riot of 1971. PLSNY is dedicated to providing civil legal services to incarcerated individuals including, but not limited to, assistance with disciplinary appeals, excessive use of force, jail time credit issues, and correctional facility compliance with the Humane Alternative to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act. PLSNY even assists incarcerated individuals achieve their academic and vocational education goals by advocating for reasonable accommodations under the IDEA and ADA.
I had the opportunity to assist the attorneys at PLSNY’s Buffalo office with each of these issues in some capacity. From co-writing an advocacy letter to improve conditions on a dorm at a local Western New York prison, to calling numerous county jails to investigate jail time credit issues, I was able to help clients in meaningful and life-altering ways.
One of my most memorable experiences was during a telephone intake for PLSNY’s Education Unit. We spoke with an individual who had been incarcerated for almost 25 years but had not obtained his GED due to extreme difficulties concentrating and completing coursework, made even worse due to a recent stroke. This individual remains determined to obtain his GED, despite these barriers, to show himself and his family how far he has come over the course of his incarceration. His determination and resilience to continue his education while incarcerated was truly moving, and he was so thankful that we wanted to advocate on his behalf.
My experience at PLSNY shows that the need for legal assistance doesn’t end once the criminal trial and sentencing have concluded. Civil legal work is necessary to ensure that conditions of confinement are humane and safe, and that those incarcerated have the opportunity to achieve their goals and prepare for their re-entry into our communities. Maintaining a person-centered, trauma-informed approach is critical when working with vulnerable populations to ensure that we are being the best advocates we can be. I am excited to continue this work in the future and utilize both of my degrees to their fullest extent.
I would like to sincerely thank the donors of the Kaplan & Reynolds Summer Fellowship Award, as well as the University at Buffalo School of Law Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program, for their generosity and commitment to funding public interest legal work. Additionally, I would like to thank PLSNY for giving me experience working on a variety of different issues faced by incarcerated populations. It was truly wonderful to spend my first legal internship gaining knowledge and experience in the area of law I intend to pursue during my career as a legal advocate.
Name: Mia Forney ’25
Fellowship: Kaplan & Reynolds Summer Fellowship Award
Placement: Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York
Location: Buffalo, NY
One important lesson I have learned from this fellowship: Maintaining a person-centered, trauma-informed approach is critical when working with vulnerable populations to ensure that we are being the best advocates we can be.
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