Resources
By law, the Habeas Corpus Resource Center is only appointed by state or federal courts to represent people sentenced to death or formerly sentenced to death. (Gov. Code, §§ 68661, 68661.5.) The HCRC's resource center role includes providing advice to appointed counsel in capital habeas corpus proceedings as appropriate, providing resources to appointed counsel through our Extranet, and "report[ing] annually to the people, the Legislature, the Governor, and the Supreme Court on the status of the appointment of counsel for indigent persons in habeas corpus capital cases, and on the operations of the center," including stating the reasons for the delay in resolution of capital cases in the state and federal courts. (See Gov. Code, § 68661.)
The HCRC's annual reports are posted publicly on our website here, as well as fact sheets summarizing pertinent topics covered in more depth in the annual reports.
Capital Habeas Corpus Resources
Attorneys appointed to represent persons sentenced to death in California in capital post-conviction proceedings can register for access to the Habeas Corpus Resource Center's online resources.
Other relevant resources on capital punishment in California and nationwide include:
- American Bar Association Death Penalty Representation Project
- California Appellate Project (CAP)
- Bureau of Justice Statistics - Capital Punishment
- Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC)
Non-Capital Habeas Corpus Resources
The HCRC is unable to provide representation or offer legal advice to those who are not our clients. Those individuals with non-capital sentences seeking information about the state and federal habeas corpus processes may find the following resources useful:
- First District Appellate Project
- California Appellate Project - Los Angeles
- Central California Appellate Program
- Appellate Defenders Incorporated
- Sixth District Appellate Program