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

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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
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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
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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.”

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Heidi Rummel
Co-Director
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Michael Parente
Co-Director
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Irma Vargas
Supervising Attorney
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Danielle Wilkins
Clinical Legal Fellow
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Eunice Bautista
Assistant Clinical Director
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Sarah Babbitt
Paralegal
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Taylor Whitener
Program Assistant
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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On April 8-9 at Ironwood State Prison, PCJP led Fight On! For Freedom parole-readiness workshops on all four yards. Another life-changing win! Congratulations to PCJP client Moises and @uscgouldlaw student Amber Nunnery on his release following a successful parole hearing. Moises was sentenced to 115 years to Life for a crime he committed at age 21. In 2023, Governor Newsom commuted his sentence based on his exceptional rehabilitation. He was released after serving 18 years during which time he obtained a bachelor’s degree, trained service dogs, and facilitated self-help programming for Spanish speakers. NYT Contributing Opinion Writer Rachel Snyder wrote an important piece on a California lawsuit keeping Professor Heidi Rummel in conversation with Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman on “The Evolution of Crime and Punishment in California: What’s Next?” hosted by CalMatters. The landscape of criminal justice in California is changing. Following decades of legislative reforms meant to increase the accessibility of parole for deserving individuals, there is now political pressure to limit rehabilitation efforts and return to a “tough on crime” approach. California’s penal system has reached a crossroads: what is the path forward?