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ACLU of Florida Challenges Brevard County's Denial of Federal Energy Conservation Funding to Former Felons (01/26/2006)
MIAMI - Brevard County violated federal law by preventing a low-income resident from participating in an energy conservation program solely because he had a prior felony conviction, charged the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida in a lawsuit filed today in U.S. District Court in Orlando.

ACLU of New Mexico Files Lawsuit Over Jail Guard's Sexual Abuse of Female Prisoners (01/25/2006)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico today filed claims of sexual abuse and 'cruel and unusual punishment' against a McKinley County detention officer, Brian Orr, on behalf of two female inmates from Wyoming.

New Report Challenges Rhode Island Drunk Driving Statistics (01/09/2006)
PROVIDENCE, RI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today released a 35-page report that challenges recent highly publicized claims about Rhode Island's high alcohol fatality accident rate and the accompanying push for punitive drunk driving legislation at the State House this year. The report was released at a news conference today at which the ACLU and the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Association of Rhode Island (DATA) called for an emphasis on treatment and other non-punitive measures to address the problem of drunk driving.

ACLU Joins Business and Legal Groups on Attorney-Client Privilege Concerns, Says Bedrock American Principle Should Not Be Waived (10/14/2005)
WASHINGTON -The American Civil Liberties Union today joined prominent business and legal organizations in calling for lawmakers to clarify provisions in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines that encourage corporations and organizations to waive their attorney-client privilege or work-product protections in order to receive leniency in federal criminal cases. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the American Bar Association are among the organizations coordinating their efforts on the issue.

Amendment Attached to the Violence Against Women Act Would Invade the Privacy of Innocent Americans by Collecting and Storing their DNA (09/29/2005)
WASHINGTON - Calling the Violence Against Women Act one of the key laws protecting women from domestic violence and sexual assault, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged the Senate to reject an amendment, authored by Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and John Cornyn (R-TX), that would permit the government to collect and maintain DNA samples of individuals who are arrested or detained by federal authorities - even if they are not convicted, or even charged with a crime.

ACLU Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Review Iowa's Sex Offender Residency Restriction (09/29/2005)
DES MOINES - The Iowa Civil Liberties Union announced today that its is asking the Supreme Court to overturn Iowa's unprecedented law that restricts where sex offenders with victims under the age of 18 can reside. The Court will likely decide by the end of the year whether to hear the case.

ACLU of Washington Files Lawsuit over Issaquah Housing Ordinance (08/31/2005)
ISSAQUAH, WA -- The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit on behalf of a local mother and her son, challenging a recently passed Issaquah ordinance that imposes highly restrictive limits on housing for people with past convictions for sex offenses.

ACLU Says Habeas Legislation is Unconstitutional, Should be Rejected by the Senate Judiciary Committee (07/28/2005)
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today has begun to consider legislation that would strip federal courts of their jurisdiction and take away defendant's safeguards against being wrongfully convicted and even executed. The committee will continue to consider this legislation after the August recess. The American Civil Liberties Union opposes this bill, saying it unconstitutionally violates the doctrine of Separation of Powers and threatens the independence of the federal judiciary.

ACLU of Alaska Appeals State University's Refusal to Admit Ex-Felon to Social Work Program (07/01/2005)
ANCHORAGE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska today filed an appeal on behalf of Micheal Purcell, a University of Alaska-Anchorage student and former prisoner who was denied entry into the social work program due solely to his past criminal convictions. ACLU of Alaska attorneys say the school's denial of entry to a model student constitutes a violation of Purcell's right to rehabilitation under the Alaska Constitution.

"Girlfriend Problem" Harms Women and Children, Impacted Families Call Mandatory Sentences Unfair and Destructive (06/14/2005)
WASHINGTON -- Several formerly incarcerated women, a child of an incarcerated woman and national experts on sentencing policy - including the American Civil Liberties Union - told lawmakers today about the negative effects of drug sentencing laws have on women and families and urged reform. Under current drug laws, even those with little involvement in drug trafficking operations - often women in relationships with men involved in drug-related activities - are held liable for the entire quantity of drugs charged in connection with the conspiracy.

NYCLU Hails Introduction of Civil Rights Legislation to End Unlawful NYPD Detention Practice (05/24/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today called on the City Council to pass landmark civil rights legislation that will be introduced tomorrow. Known as the ""Charge or Release"" bill and introduced by Council Member Bill Perkins, it would mandate that individuals arrested in New York City are arraigned within 24 hours of arrest.

Alaska Superior Court Judge Affirms Right Of Accused To Interview Witnesses (05/12/2005)
ANCHORAGE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska today lauded a court ruling striking down part of a decades-old law that required defense representatives to get written releases before interviewing witnesses and prohibiting them from taping interviews. The court also upheld provisions that merely require defense counsel to advise victims verbally that they have the right not to answer questions.

Michigan Attorney General Plan Would Erode Right to Fair Trial, Charges ACLU (05/10/2005)
DETROIT -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today expressed concern over reports that Attorney General Mike Cox is pushing for legislation that would significantly alter the judicial process and jeopardize due process rights by doing away with preliminary examinations in most felony cases.

ACLU of Michigan Argues in Supreme Court that the Poor Have a Right to Counsel (04/25/2005)
DETROIT -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today urged the Supreme Court to strike down a Michigan law denying legal representation to thousands of poor people in their criminal appeals. The Court will consider the issue during oral argument today.

ACLU of Michigan Urges Supreme Court to Strike Down State Law Denying Poor the Right to Counsel (04/25/2005)
DETROIT -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a Michigan law denying legal representation to thousands of poor people in their criminal appeals. ""Michigan has attempted to do something that no other state has done in 40 years - take away the right of poor people to have the same access to appellate courts that wealthy people have always had,"" said David Moran, the ACLU of Michigan cooperating attorney who argued the case.

ACLU of Rhode Island Sharply Criticizes Proposed Amendment That Would Deny Compensation to Victims of Violent Crimes (03/28/2005)
PROVIDENCE, RI--The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today sharply criticized proposed regulations allowing the state to deny compensation to victims of violent crimes solely because the victim had been convicted of, or pled ""no contest"" to, a DUI offense in the past. The ACLU's criticism came at a public hearing held by the General Treasurer's office on the proposed amendment to its crime victim compensation regulations.

Drug Policies are Destroying Families, Groups Charge (03/17/2005)
NEW YORK -- The ACLU, Break the Chains: Communities of Color and the War on Drugs, and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law today released a report that compiles for the first time existing research on the effects of current drug laws and sentencing policies on women and their families. The report, Caught in the Net: the Impact of Drug Policies on Women & Families, is co-authored by the three organizations and is being launched at a national conference of experts on issues relating to women, families and drugs at NYU School of Law on March 17th and 18th.

ACLU Urges Michigan State Police to Stop Re-victimizing Identity Theft Victims (01/19/2005)
DETROIT - The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and Western Michigan Legal Services (WMLS) today urged the state attorney general to stop re-victimizing victims of identity theft.

ACLU of New Jersey Wins Victory In DNA Law Challenge (12/22/2004)
NEWARK, NJ - The Superior Court of New Jersey in Mercer County ruled today that New Jersey must limit its new DNA collection law so that it does not violate the constitutional right of freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

ACLU Hails New Mexico Court Decision Upholding Immigrants' Right to Effective Counsel (09/01/2004)
ALBUQUERQUE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico today hailed a unanimous decision by the State Supreme Court requiring that immigrants be told they could be deported if they plead guilty to a crime.