HOW TO FILE A GRIEVANCE ABOUT JAIL CONDITIONS Filing a written grievance and pursuing an internal appeal are important steps you must take to change jail conditions for the better and to preserve your legal rights. Inmates are allowed to file grievances without fear of reprisal. This handout is prepared by the ACLU to help guide you through the necessary steps of the grievance process. STEP ONE: Write the Grievance State your complaint in your own words. It does not need to be long or fancy. Be sure to: • Identify the specific problem. • Say what you want the jail to do about it. • Sign and date your grievance. • Keep a copy, or make careful notes reflecting what you said and when you sent it. Use the grievance form provided by your jail if one is available. If no forms are available, use another sheet of paper, but write "Grievance" at the top. STEP TWO: Deliver The Grievance. Give the grievance to a corrections officer. The CO should provide a written response within ten business days. Keep a copy of the response, or make careful notes about what was said and when it was received. STEP THREE: Internal Appeal If you are not satisfied with the first level response to your grievance, you must appeal to the Superintendent of Corrections. The appeal does not have to be lengthy. Simply provide the initial grievance and the response (if any) and say that you want a review of the first decision. If you never got a response to your initial grievance, request an appeal after the day you should have received a response. You should receive a written response to your Appeal within ten days. Keep a copy or make careful notes about the appeal and any response.

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