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ACLU, Rep. Bobby Scott Call for Multi-front Steps to Ending Youth Violence (11/28/2007)
RICHMOND, Va. – A group of advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, joined Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) today to call on the Virginia community, as well as political and law enforcement leaders, to end the school-to-prison pipeline, the trend of increasingly funneling young people from the school system to the criminal justice system. Panelists discussed Rep. Scott’s Youth PROMISE Act as part of an alternative, focusing on preventing young people from committing crimes and joining gangs rather than just relying on the criminal justice system to punish youths who have broken the law.

New York State Failing its Constitutional Duty on Public Defense (11/08/2007)
New York State is failing in its constitutional duty to provide effective counsel to New Yorkers accused of crimes who cannot afford to pay private lawyers, according to a landmark lawsuit filed today by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the law firm of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP.

New York State Failing its Constitutional Duty on Public Defense, NYCLU Lawsuit Charges (11/08/2007)
NEW YORK – New York State is failing in its constitutional duty to provide effective counsel to New Yorkers accused of crimes who cannot afford to pay private lawyers, according to a landmark class action lawsuit filed today by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the law firm of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP.

Blacks and Hispanics Disproportionately Jailed in Rhode Island, National Report Indicates (07/26/2007)
PROVIDENCE, RI - The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today said that the release of a national report analyzing incarceration rates across the country demonstrates the need for a broader commitment to address racial profiling and related problems of racial disparities in Rhode Island's criminal justice system. The report, "Uneven Justice: State Rates of Incarceration by Race and Ethnicity," was released this past week by The Sentencing Project, located in Washington D.C., and examined nationwide prison statistics for 2005.

ACLU Supports Legislation Aimed at Protecting Attorney-Client Privilege (07/12/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union announced its support for H.R. 3013, “The Attorney-Client Privilege Protection Act of 2007,” introduced today in the House of Representatives by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA). This important legislation is aimed at protecting the right to legal counsel for all Americans by prohibiting prosecutors from pursuing privileged information, while allowing people to cooperate with the government by voluntarily turning over information.

Native American Families and Winner School District Announce Settlement in Case Alleging Discrimination (06/18/2007)
WINNER, SD - The Winner/Ideal Native American community and the Winner School District announced today that an agreement has been reached to settle a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of Native American students attending Winner schools.

ACLU Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Protecting Fourth Amendment Rights of Car Passengers (06/18/2007)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union applauded today’s decision by the United States Supreme Court in Brendlin v. California, recognizing that passengers in a car that is stopped by the police are seized as well as the driver, and therefore have the same right under the Fourth Amendment to protest an unconstitutional stop that is based on the police officer’s whim rather than evidence of wrongdoing.

ACLU Shares Findings of Two-Week Investigation of Girls in Texas Juvenile Justice System (05/24/2007)
AUSTIN, TX - As part of ongoing efforts to reform and restructure Texas’s juvenile justice system, today the American Civil Liberties Union Women’s Rights Project released a preliminary report, A Blueprint for Meeting the Needs of Girls in TYC Custody. On Tuesday the ACLU briefed Texas Youth Commission (TYC) Conservator Jay Kimbrough, Acting Executive Director Ed Owens and new Chief Ombudsman Will Harrell on findings and recommendations in the report that resulted from a two-week investigation of all TYC detention facilities that house girls. The report was presented yesterday to key legislative staffers.

ACLU of Texas and Juvenile Justice Advocates Applaud Passage of Texas Youth Commission Reform Bill (04/19/2007)
AUSTIN, TX - The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and the Texas Coalition Advocating Justice for Juveniles (TCAJJ) applauded the unanimous passage in the State Senate today of SB 103, the omnibus reform legislation on the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). Both groups were thrilled to see the comprehensive bill pass so quickly after tumultuous weeks of scandals and revelations at the commission.

Groups Launch Campaign to Ensure That Ohio Youth Have Access to Lawyers (04/18/2007)
COLUMBUS, OH - As the Supreme Court of Ohio today heard arguments on protecting children’s right to counsel, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Ohio, the Children’s Law Center and the Office of the Ohio Public Defender announced a statewide campaign to inform young people of their rights.

Oregon Students Challenge Unconstitutional Curfew in Lake Oswego (04/18/2007)
PORTLAND, OR -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon today filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of several Lake Oswego High School students, saying that the city’s curfew is unconstitutional.

Landmark Lawsuit Seeks Repairs to Michigan Justice System (02/22/2007)
LANSING, MI - The Michigan Coalition for Justice filed a landmark lawsuit today against the state of Michigan and Governor Jennifer Granholm for failing to fulfill their constitutional obligation to provide adequate defense services to those who cannot afford private counsel. The coalition charges that Michigan has long abdicated its duty to ensure that poor people accused of crimes receive timely, qualified and appropriately resourced lawyers for their defense.