American Civil Liberties Union

Our constitution is meant to safeguard against government abuses of power. But all too often, the rights of those involved in the criminal justice system are compromised or ignored. The ACLU works to reform the criminal justice system and make the promise of fair treatment a reality for all people. >> More about the ACLU's Criminal Justice work.


ACLU Legacy Challenge

Freedom Files - Season 2
Ideological Exclusion

ACLU NewsfeedsACLU News Feed
ACLU Blog
ACLU Podcasts

Criminal Justice : Press Releases

ACLU Applauds Los Angeles City Council for Opposing Youth Crime Measure (11/10/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California applauds the Los Angeles City Council for today's nine-to-one vote in opposition to the Gang Violence and Juvenile Crime Prevention Initiative (Proposition 21) that will appear on the March 2000 ballot.

Laurel Residents and ACLU Sue Police Over Wrongful Searches (10/08/1999)
BILLINGS, MT -- In a lawsuit filed here today in Montana State District Court, Georgette Demarais and her son Lawrence say that Laurel police officers wrongfully searched them, in violation of their state and federal civil and constitutional rights.

ACLU of GA Says School Strip Search Ruling Ignores Students' Rights (10/04/1999)
ATLANTA -- While ruling that school officials and police officers violated the Constitution when they strip-searched an entire class of fifth graders, a Georgia judge today said that none of the adults involved could be held liable for their actions.

Seeking Amends for False Imprisonment (09/28/1999)
BOSTON -- How do the innocent collect when they are released from prison after spending years behind bars for crimes they didn't commit?

Court Invalidates West New York Curfew Ordinance (09/13/1999)
WEST NEW YORK, NJ -- Ruling in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, a Superior Court judge today struck down a West New York curfew ordinance as unconstitutional.

Drug Prevention Law Ignores More Effective Alternative, ACLU Tells PA Lawmakers (08/18/1999)
HARRISBURG, PA -- In testimony before a state committee on criminal justice issues, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania opposed a law that would slap a mandatory two-year prison term on anyone convicted of dealing drugs within 1,000 feet of a day-care center, the Bucks County Courier Times reports.

ACLU Urges Sacramento Officials to Defeat Unconstitutional Vehicle Seizure Ordinance (08/09/1999)
SACRAMENTO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California is urging city officials to reject a proposed ordinance that would allow police to seize, claim and sell the vehicles driven by people accused of using them to solicit prostitution or buy drugs -- even if they are later found innocent.

The DNA Debate Continues (08/05/1999)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard wants to run a DNA profile on everyone arrested and booked into the new county jail when it opens later this year, the Salt Lake City Tribune reported today.

ACLU Challenges Illinois Law Allowing Police to Seize Cars of Suspected Gang Members (07/28/1999)
CHICAGO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois today filed a class action lawsuit in Federal District Court challenging the constitutionality of a Cicero ordinance allowing police to seize and impound the cars of suspected gang members.

Settlement Reached in ACLU's Class-Action Lawsuit Alleging Inadequacy of CT Public Defender System (07/07/1999)
HARTFORD -- The American Civil Liberties Union and its Connecticut affiliate today announced the resolution of its class-action lawsuit against the State of Connecticut for failing to provide the public defender system with sufficient funding.

ACLU Urges Attorney General to Adopt Panel's Opposition to Mass DNA Testing (07/06/1999)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union applauds the recommendation of a federal panel to oppose the expanded use of DNA tests on everyone who is arrested, and we join the panel in urging Attorney General Janet Reno to adopt this policy.

ACLU to Defend Iowa Farm Families in Lawsuits Against Hog Factories (06/30/1999)
DES MOINES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa today announced that it will provide legal assistance to people around the state who could be prevented from maintaining lawsuits against neighboring hog factories that pollute their environment.

ACLU of Iowa Sues to Stop Unlawful Tax Searches (06/30/1999)
DES MOINES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of a Marshall County resident whose real estate taxes were doubled after he refused to consent to a warrantless search of his home.

Click to show/hide issues list
Your Local ACLUcongressional scorecardmultimediaforumspublicationssupport usstorecontact