Habeas Corpus, in the Federal Court, is a petition that claims that you are being detained against your US constitutional rights. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a civil proceeding that is available in both State and Federal Court to challenge the legality of imprisonment.This Chapter discusses how the writ of habeas corpus is applied in three states: Florida, New York, and Michigan. The Writ of Habeas Corpus protects prison inmates from false imprisonment to ensure people are not thrown into jail unlawfully. A Writ of Habeas Corpus may be an option for you if you or someone you love is being held in jail, prison, or a mental health institution. Latin for "that you have the body. How Do I Fill Out the Form? There is an official form (Judicial Council Form HC-001) for filing a state petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Writ of Habeas Corpus protects prison inmates from false imprisonment to ensure people are not thrown into jail unlawfully. The law in the area is an intricate weave of statute and case law.