Inmate Legal Advocacy: Built Inside. Proven Outside.
Jacob Powell's legal advocacy non-profit InmateLegal began inside federal prison and grew into federal advocacy spanning compassionate release, post-conviction litigation, appellate proceedings, a Presidential Commutation, and the United States Supreme Court.
Freedom Anew
InmateLegal conceived, researched, and drafted federal post-conviction filings that helped secure the early release of long-term federal prisoners. Among them was Tony Baker, who was sentenced to 45 years and released after serving more than 24 years, and Darrell Edmond Janis, whose sentence was reduced to time served before he had completed even half of his original term. See United States v. Baker, No. 4:97-cr-00176-GKF (N.D. Okla.); United States v. Janis, No. 5:19-cr-50103 (D.S.D.).
5th Circuit
In United States v. Douangmala, No. 23-11258 (5th Cir.), InmateLegal originated and drafted the response to appointed counsel’s Anders brief seeking withdrawal from the appeal. The Fifth Circuit determined that counsel’s submission was inadequate, declined to permit the appeal to end on that record, and ordered supplemental briefing—keeping Douangmala’s appellate claims alive for further review.
SCOTUS
In Aguilera v. United States, No. 24-5837 (U.S.), InmateLegal originated and authored filings presented to the United States Supreme Court. Rather than disposing of the petition on the initial submissions, the Supreme Court ordered further briefing at the certiorari stage—placing InmateLegal’s work before the nation’s highest court for additional consideration.
The Beginning
The idea behind InmateLegal took shape in January 2020, while Jacob Powell was confined in a federal prison Special Housing Unit. What began with the idea of inmates helping other inmates developed into an organized effort to research difficult federal cases, identify overlooked legal issues, and put those arguments on paper. InmateLegal grew case by case; and its work would eventually extend far beyond the prison where it began.
2020 — The First Breakthrough
InmateLegal’s early work produced a major result in United States v. Janis, where a compassionate-release motion originated and authored by InmateLegal was granted in December 2020.
2022–23 — The Work Expands
The work grew into increasingly complex federal litigation. Tony Baker was released after more than 24 years in prison, and John Russell Morales was released after the government responded “in support of” an InmateLegal motion.
2024–25 — The Highest Courts
InmateLegal’s work moved into federal appellate and Supreme Court proceedings. The Fifth Circuit ordered additional briefing in Douangmala, while Aguilera v. United States reached the U.S. Supreme Court, where the Court ordered further briefing at the certiorari stage.