Human Rights Defense Center
Non-profit OrganizationsFlorida, United States11-50 Employees
The Human Rights Defense Center is a U.S. nonprofit organization based in Lake Worth, Florida, focused on advocating for the human rights of individuals detained in various facilities, including state and federal prisons, local jails, immigration detention centers, civil commitment facilities, Bureau of Indian Affairs jails, juvenile facilities, and military prisons. Its work encompasses protecting free speech rights for publishers serving prisoners and ensuring prisoners can receive publications and communications from outside sources, alongside efforts to improve government transparency through public records and Freedom of Information Act requests at state and federal levels. The organization publishes Prison Legal News and engages in litigation, research, outreach, public speaking, and testimony to influence policy and accountability, while also offering self-help resources for prisoners and supporting campaigns such as Prison Phone Justice. HRDC operates within the non-profit sector, sustaining its activities through individual donations, earned revenue, foundation grants, and publication-related income, and maintains separate websites for its primary publication and campaign initiatives.