1. Introduction
These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of the websites, software, and services operated by Dr. Prison (“Dr. Prison,” “we,” “us”). By creating an account, making a payment, or otherwise using the platform, you agree to these Terms on your own behalf and, if applicable, on behalf of the incarcerated person you sponsor. If you do not agree, do not use the platform.
2. Nature of service
Dr. Prison is a consulting, coaching, and advocacy service for people navigating the Federal Bureau of Prisons system and their families. We are not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, we do not practice law, and we do not represent clients in court. For any matter that requires legal advice or representation, you must retain a licensed attorney. We will gladly refer you to our attorney-partnership program (see §6) if that fits your need.
3. No attorney-client privilege
Communications between you and Dr. Prison are not protected by attorney-client privilege, because we are not attorneys and you are not our legal client. Our records may be subpoenaed or lawfully requested by courts, the BOP, or other government agencies. If privilege matters for your situation, you must engage an attorney directly; do not rely on Dr. Prison staff as a substitute for counsel.
4. Confidentiality notice
We treat your information as confidential under contract, even though it is not privileged. Our staff and contractors are bound by a written confidentiality policy (see the Confidentiality page). We will not disclose your information to third parties except: (a) with your consent; (b) as required by law, subpoena, or valid legal process; (c) to our attorney-partner on your behalf when you engage one through us; (d) to service vendors under written contracts equivalent to ours (e.g., encrypted-storage providers). Contractual confidentiality is civilly enforceable, but it is not the same as attorney-client privilege.
5. Lawful disclosure
When we receive a subpoena, court order, or lawful government request for your records, we will comply to the extent required. Where not prohibited by the requesting authority, we will give you written notice at the address and email on file at least five business days before production, so you may seek to quash or narrow the request. We will not disclose records for marketing or commercial purposes.
6. Attorney-partnership program
For matters that require legal advice or a privileged relationship (for example, motions for compassionate release, direct appeals, civil-rights filings), Dr. Prison can route the work through a partner attorney who will open a separate engagement with you. You will sign a separate engagement letter with that attorney, and attorney fees will be billed separately and transparently. Dr. Prison does not share in legal fees, does not direct the attorney's legal judgment, and does not receive privileged communications between you and the attorney.
7. Accounts and the sponsor relationship
The platform supports three account types: (a) family sponsor accounts, typically the billing party acting on behalf of an incarcerated person; (b) tablet-enabled inmate accounts, which the inmate controls directly from a BOP-approved device; (c) mail-only inmate accounts, which the sponsor operates on the inmate's behalf until tablet access is established. A sponsor's proxy authority is subject to revocation or modification by the inmate at any time once the inmate has direct access. We require explicit consent records (written or on-platform) before any sponsor-initiated action affects the inmate's profile or releases records to third parties.
8. Billing and refunds
Services are offered as one-time engagements or subscriptions as described on our Pricing page. The sponsor (or, where applicable, the inmate) is the billing party. If a payment fails, we will attempt to re-charge the card up to three times over seven days and will notify the billing party by email at each attempt. Unused prepaid services are refundable pro-rata within 30 days; completed or partially-delivered services are refundable at our discretion for quality reasons. Third-party costs — attorney fees, court filing fees, mail postage, BOP commissary deposits — are passed through at cost without markup, on an itemized invoice.
9. Acceptable use
You agree not to: (a) impersonate another person or link to an inmate with whom you do not have a bona fide relationship; (b) misrepresent your identity, credentials, or authority to Dr. Prison staff or to the BOP; (c) use the platform to harass, threaten, or intimidate inmates, their families, or our staff; (d) attempt to access accounts other than your own or probe the platform for vulnerabilities without written authorization; (e) upload malware or content that violates third-party rights. We may suspend accounts for suspected violations pending review and terminate accounts for confirmed violations.
10. Client data and retention
While your account is active, we retain the data you and the inmate provide for as long as it is needed to deliver services. When an account closes, we retain communications, filings, and service records for seven (7) years to support audits, dispute resolution, and lawful requests. Audit-log entries are retained indefinitely as tamper-evident records of who did what. You may request an export of your data, or deletion of data not subject to a legal retention requirement, by emailing the address in §15. We will respond within 30 days.
11. Termination
You may terminate your account at any time by using the in-product account-closure flow or by emailing us. We may terminate or suspend an account for violation of these Terms, for non-payment after the dunning sequence, or because we can no longer responsibly serve the matter (we will transfer any active work to an attorney of record or to another provider you designate, at your direction). Sections that by their nature should survive termination (confidentiality, limitation of liability, governing law, retention, pending balances) will survive.
12. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, our aggregate liability to you under these Terms for any and all claims in any 12-month period will not exceed the amount you paid Dr. Prison in that period. We will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages. Nothing in these Terms limits liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or any liability that cannot be limited under applicable law. Because Dr. Prison is not a law firm, we explicitly disclaim liability for the legal outcome of any case or administrative action; retain counsel for legal representation.
13. Changes to these terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be announced to sponsors by email at the address on file, posted on-platform, and published with a new effective date at least 30 days before they take effect. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance. If you do not agree with an update, you may terminate your account as described in §11; we will refund any unused prepaid balance.
14. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute that is not first resolved in good-faith negotiation will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Arlington County, Virginia, and you and Dr. Prison consent to that jurisdiction and venue. This §14 does not prevent either party from seeking provisional or injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction. You retain the right to bring qualifying small-claims actions in your own locality.
15. Contact
Dr. Prison — Legal Notices
c/o the address published at drprison.org/contact
Email: legal@drprison.org
Questions about these Terms, data requests, or notices of lawful process should be sent to that email or address.