(Rev. 10/2013) UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRISONERS FILING CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1983 or BIVENS ACTIONS 1. FORMS The attached form is to assist you in the preparation of a complaint seeking relief for violation of civil rights under either 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (defendants are state officials) or a Bivens action (defendants are federal officials). These forms may be filled out by typewriter or by hand. Handwriting must be clear and readable. Every question on the forms must be answered, even if your answer is "no," or "don't know." The use of forms is required by D. Kan. Rule 9.1(a). Do not write on the back of the complaint forms. If you need more space, use additional sheets of paper. Federal rules require that the complaint be a BRIEF statement. Stick to the facts (who, what, when, where, why, how). Always include dates, times, places, and names. Pursuant to D. Kan. Rule 7.1(e), the argument and authorities section of a brief or memorandum in a civil action may not exceed 30 pages absent an order of the court. 2. COPIES NOT REQUIRED Pursuant to D. Kan. Rule 9.1(h), petitioners, movants, and plaintiffs need only submit the ORIGINAL petition, motion, or complaint to the clerk for filing. Additional copies are not required. It is your responsibility to keep a copy for your records of every complaint and other document or letter that you send to the court. 3. SIGNATURE REQUIRED You must personally sign the complaint, motion, or petition. If there is more than one plaintiff, each person must sign. You may not sign for anyone else. 4. TENDER OF PLEADINGS When your complaint or pleading is completed, it should be transmitted to the clerk of the court with the appropriate filing fee or in forma pauperis motion. If you are incarcerated in a facility with mandatory electronic filing, you should follow instructions available at the facility for transmitting the pleading electronically to the court. American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com (Rev. 10/2013) If you are not subject to mandatory electronic filing, you should mail the pleading to: TIMOTHY M. O'BRIEN, CLERK OF COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 444 S.E. QUINCY TOPEKA, KANSAS 66683 5. FILING FEES The complaint must be accompanied by a filing fee or a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The statutory filing fee for civil rights complaints is $400.00.1 If you cannot afford to prepay the filing fee, you may request permission to proceed in forma pauperis by completing a form motion available from the court and submitting certified copies of your institutional financial records for the six months preceding your motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. After receiving these materials, the court will assess an initial partial filing fee that is the greater of (a) 20% of the average monthly deposits in your account for the past six months; OR (b) 20% of the average monthly balance in your account for the past six months. If your motion is granted, you will be allowed to pay the filing fee in installments, and you must pay 20% of each month's income in every month your institutional account balance exceeds ten dollars ($10.00) until the full filing fee is paid. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). The financial officer of the facility where you are incarcerated will be directed to make these payments, and it is your responsibility to cooperate with facility personnel to authorize these arrangements. The failure to cooperate may result in sanctions by the court. You must pay the full filing fee even if your case is dismissed by the court. If you have no assets, you will not be prohibited from bringing an action without payment of an initial partial fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4). However, when you receive assets, you must pay the filing fee as described. If you have had three or more civil actions or appeals dismissed as frivolous, malicious, or for failure to state a claim, you are no longer eligible to proceed without prepayment of the full filing fee unless you are under serious danger of serious physical injury. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 6. SERVICE Once you have submitted the portion of the filing fee directed by the court, the court will review your claims to determine whether summons or waiver of summons forms should be issued to the defendants. Your complaint should list the complete name and address of each person named as a defendant. Without this information, the Clerk cannot prepare summons or waivers for issuance by the Marshal. See Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com (Rev. 10/2013) 7. AFTER THE COMPLAINT IS FILED You must comply with court rules, which include keeping the court informed in writing of your current address. See D. Kan. R. 5(c)(3). If you fail to comply with this or any other court rule or fail to comply with any court imposed deadline, your case may be dismissed for want of prosecution. Exhibits included with the complaint or a pleading are considered part of the court record and will not be returned. 8. MOTIONS A request for any type of relief must be in the form of a proper motion beginning with the case caption and title of the motion. 9. COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT It is improper to communicate directly with a Judge or Magistrate Judge concerning matters which are or may become a subject in Court. Procedural questions may be directed to the clerk's office, but Judges, Magistrate Judges, and court staff are prohibited from giving legal advice. 10. EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES UNDER THE PRISON LITIGATION REFORM ACT (PLRA) You may not bring an action challenging prison conditions under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 or any other federal law until you have exhausted available administrative remedies. 1 Effective May 1, 2013, there is a $50 general administrative fee for filing a civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court. This fee is in addition to the existing civil filing fee of $350. Therefore, effective May 1, 2013, the total fee for filing a new civil case will be $400. This new fee is part of the "District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule", established by the Judicial Conference of the United States, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1914. This fee does not apply to persons granted in forma pauperis status under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com (Name) (Institution Register No.) (Current Mailing Address) UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT