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(a) In civil cases in which 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b) applies, prisoners seeking to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis must file the following documents in the court of appeals:

(1) an affidavit of poverty that includes the amount in the prisoner’s prison account;

(2) a certified copy of the prison account statement(s) (or institutional equivalent) for the 6 month period immediately preceding the filing of the notice of appeal; and

(3) a signed form authorizing prison officials to assess and deduct the filing fees in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).

(b) After the filing of the documents required in subsection (a) in civil cases in which 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b) applies, the clerk will issue an order directing the warden of the prison to assess and deduct the filing fees in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).

(c) In cases filed in which 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b) does not apply, prisoners seeking to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis must file an affidavit of poverty in the form prescribed by the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure accompanied by a certified statement of the prison account statement(s) (or institutional equivalent) for the 6 month period preceding the filing of the notice of appeal or petition for extraordinary writ. No assessment order will be entered unless the court determines that the case is subject to the requirements of § 1915(b) and directs that assessments be made.

Notes

Technical changes were made in 1997 to conform to the Prison Litigation Reform Act.