This petition must be clearly handwritten in ink or typed. You should exercise care to make sure all answers are true and correct.One of the first steps in filing an appeal is a 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 writ of Habeas Corpus is the legal system's last line of defense against unlawful incarceration. A writ of habeas corpus petition is a tool that individuals convicted of criminal offenses in California can use to challenge their imprisonment. This manual explains how someone without a lawyer can file a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the California state courts. It cannot be gainsaid that any other county has greater, or more proper, concern with the issues raised in the Habeas Corpus Petition. Electronic means during the course of an action unless the attorney opts out. Forms for filing petitions for writ of habeas corpus and other information should be available in the prison law library.