Shifting institutional policies, communication restrictions, and shrinking budgets continue to limit access to legal information for incarcerated individuals and create confusion for those providing services from the outside. What does meaningful access look like in today’s carceral settings, and what legal information is most needed? How can law librarians navigate these constraints to deliver effective services?

This panel at the AALL 2026 Conference will explore the current state of legal information services to incarcerated patrons and how law libraries can adapt to evolving policies that limit access to legal information. Topics include findings of the recently completed Ithaka S+R IMLS grant project Access to Legal Information in Prisons; common legal information needs of incarcerated patrons; guidance on handling legal resource questions; maintaining privacy in reference communications; and following best practices for successful reference responses.

The session is scheduled for July 19 at 2:00pm.