American Civil Liberties Union

Abuse by police continues to be a major civil liberties problem in the U.S., particularly for the poor and for people of color.  Everyone needs and deserves effective and humane law enforcement in communities and courtrooms.


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Police Practices : General : Press Releases

ACLU of Southern California Reacts to Report by Police Commission's Independent Review Panel (11/16/2000)
LOS ANGELES - We are pleased that several of the recommendations made by the Police Commission's Independent Review Panel closely tracks the calls for reform made over the years by the American Civil Liberties Union.

ACLU Challenges Police "Gag Rule" in Rhode Island (11/14/2000)
PROVIDENCE, RI--The ACLU of Rhode Island today filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a Providence Police Department "gag rule" which prevents police officers from talking to the media without approval of the police chief.

Court Rules that Tragic Police Outing of Gay Teen Violated Constitutional Rights; ACLU Sees Broad Impact (11/07/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a solid victory for the privacy rights of lesbian and gay Americans -- and particularly for young gay people -- a Federal Appeals Court ruled late yesterday that police violated a gay teen's constitutional rights when they threatened to tell his family that he was gay. The boy committed suicide after the threat was made.

Major Victory in Tragic Case of Teen Outing Will Have Broad Impact for LGBT Youth (11/07/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a solid victory for the privacy rights of lesbian and gay Americans -- and particularly for young gay people -- a Federal Appeals Court ruled late yesterday that police violated a gay teen's constitutional rights when they threatened to tell his family that he was gay. The boy committed suicide after the threat was made.

ACLU of Southern CA Commends High Court's Affirmation of Miranda Rights in Two Key Cases (06/26/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California applauded the U.S. Supreme Court's dual affirmation of suspects' Miranda rights in two decisions issued today.

Facing NYCLU Lawsuit, Town Agrees to Restore Free Speech Rights for Police Officers (03/21/2000)
NEW YORK -- Responding to a lawsuit recently filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Town of Wallkill today agreed to rescind its gag order policies preventing its police officers from speaking out about departmental matters.

ACLU Denounces Imperial Police Chief, Renews Call for Independent Commission (03/15/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- We have an imperial chief in Los Angeles. The refusal of Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks to work with the L.A. County District Attorney's office on the Rampart corruption scandal is another reason why it is essential to appoint an independent commission to examine the systemic problems in the LAPD. Parks is trying to grab more authority, rather than be held accountable for his actions and those of his department.

ACLU Applauds New Police Accountability Measure (03/15/2000)
WASHINGTON--The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the introduction of a bill designed to curb outrages like Los Angeles Police Department's "Ramparts" scandal and the Amadou Diallo shooting in New York.

ACLU of Southern California Responds to Appointment of Experts to Investigate LAPD (03/07/2000)
LOS ANGELES--I have great respect for the integrity and good faith of the Police Commission and its president, Gerald Chaleff. We are pleased to see some movement from the Commission on police reform, but this proposal is still no substitute for the creation of a truly independent panel.

ACLU Calls for Independent Commission to Investigate Corruption Scandal Rocking LAPD (03/01/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- It's time for the mayor to wake up. This city and its police department need an independent commission - and we need it now. Relying on the police department to ferret out all of the underlying problems is like having a cancer patient operate on himself.

Following Police Acquittals, NYCLU Calls on Federal Government to Open Civil Rights Investigation into Diallo Shooting (02/25/2000)
NEW YORK--Aside from the question of individual criminal culpability decided today by a state jury, the New York Civil Liberties Union believes that the federal civil rights of Amadou Diallo were violated when he was shot and killed by four members of the New York Police Department's Street Crime Unit on February 4, 1998.

ACLU of Michigan Challenges Police Arrests of People Who Refuse to Identify Themselves (11/29/1999)
EAST LANSING, MI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today filed a lawsuit against city and police officials here, challenging the constitutionality of the police department's practice of arresting, detaining and prosecuting people for refusing to produce identification upon demand.

Police Study Supreme Court's Latest List of "Do's and Don'ts" (07/08/1999)
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers who pulled over a speeding car had no idea a backseat passenger was carrying drugs in her purse. But according to the Associated Press, they ended up looking inside it anyway, a search now condoned by the nation's highest court.

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