For more than 40 years, PCJP has tirelessly advocated for incarcerated People in California

The Post-Conviction Justice Project at USC Gould School of Law fights for second chances at freedom for deserving clients — through parole representation, parole-readiness workshops in prisons, courtroom representation and legislative advocacy. 

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What is PCJP?

 A clinical legal education program directed by professors Heidi Rummel and Michael Parente where certified law students represent clients — many sentenced to life-terms for crimes committed in their youth more than 20 or 30 years ago. Since 2008, PCJP has co-sponsored significant juvenile and criminal justice reforms, impacting the lives of tens of thousands of incarcerated people.

About PCJP

We Fight for Second Chances

Impact

We strive to create hope and fight for justice for each of our clients. Learn more about our impact on the California criminal legal system over the years.

Our Impact

Support

Contributions support students in their efforts to further advocacy, introduce legislation and engage in programs on the front lines of justice.

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Education

Students and alumni play a pivotal role in learning how to advocate for justice while serving our clients. Learn about our students and what inspired them to join PCJP.

Students

Second Chances

PCJP has advocated for thousands of clients sentenced to life-terms. Learn more about them and their stories of hope.

News & Advocacy

“We believe in the power of hope.”

Heidi Rummel
Co-Director
Michael Parente
Co-Director
Eunice Bautista
Senior Case Manager
Danielle Wilkins
Clinical Legal Fellow
Peraya Siriwong
Supervising Attorney
Liliana Ibanez
Paralegal
Our Team

Experiential Learning

“Law school classes taught me to think like an attorney, but PCJP made me an attorney.”

— Alex Hurd, JD 2016

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Last semester, PCJP participated in the Second Chance Summit hosted by the University of San Francisco School of Law. PCJP Co-Director Heidi Rummel and Staff Attorney/ Legal Fellow Danielle Wilkins shared their expertise on leveraging legal strategies from the lifer parole process to advocate for clients’ safe release. Former clients Tony, Dara, and  K, reflected on their lived experiences during and after incarceration. Thank you to Lara Bazelon and Charlie Keever from USF Law School for having us! Congratulations to former PCJP client Kunlyna (K) and @uscgouldlaw student Avery Brogle on a successful AB 600 resentencing! After serving 18 years of a 50 years to life sentence, K was released. Here are quotes from Avery and K about their experience:  Since 1981, PCJP has trained hundreds of law students to stand for justice and advocate for second chances. To learn more about our students for the 2024-2025 school year, visit the PCJP website through the link in our bio. Wishing you a Happy Holidays from our family to yours! #happyholidays #holidayseason Last Sunday, our students, staff, and clients had a fantastic time at PCJP’s annual freedom celebration, “Freedom and Tacos.” Huge thanks to our dedicated students and staff for their unwavering commitment to their clients throughout the school year!