American Civil Liberties Union

Prisoners' Rights:
The ACLU's National Prison Project is the only national litigation program on behalf of prisoners. Since 1972, the NPP has represented more than 100,000 men, women and children. The NPP continues to fight unconstitutional conditions and the "lock 'em up" mentality that prevails in the legislatures. Learn more about our project and take action to protect the rights guaranteed to all Americans.


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Prisoner Rights : Legislative Documents

ACLU Testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security (06/26/2008)
Good afternoon. My name is Tom Jawetz and I am the immigration detention staff attorney for the National Prison Project (NPP) of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU). The ACLU is a non-partisan organization with hundreds of thousands of members and 53 affiliates nationwide. For more than 80 years, the ACLU has fought to defend the Constitution and our precious civil liberties against assault. One of our most important tools is the Freedom of Information Act, which allows members of the public to obtain vitally important information about government activity. But in a world where privatization of core governmental functions—including the management of our prisons and jails—is on the rise, more and more information is being shielded from public disclosure.

ACLU Letter to House Judiciary Subcommittee Leadership Urging Support of H.R. 1889, the Private Prison Information Act of 2007 (06/25/2008)
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union, a non-partisan organization with hundreds of thousands of activists and members and 53 affiliates nationwide, we write to support H.R.1889, the Private Prison Information Act of 2007 and urge the members of the Subcommittee to support its passage. This much needed legislation would require private entities operating prisons that detain and incarcerate federal prisoners to release information about the operation of the prisons in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as any federal agency operating a facility is required to do.

ACLU testimony before House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees at a hearing regarding immigrant detainee medical care (06/04/2008)

Testimony on PLRA - SAVE Coalition (04/22/2008)
Testimony before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

Testimony on PLRA - Stephen Bright, Founder of the Southern Center for Human Rights (04/22/2008)
Testimony before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

Testimony on PLRA - Caroline Fredrickson and Elizabeth Alexander, ACLU (04/22/2008)
Before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security regarding the Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109).

Testimony on PLRA - Jeanne Woodford, Former Warden of San Quentin Prison (04/22/2008)
Testimony before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

Testimony on PLRA - John Gibbons, Retired 3rd Circuit Judge (04/22/2008)
Testimony before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

Testimony on PLRA - Ernie Preate, Former Pennsylvania Attorney General (04/22/2008)
Testimony before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

ACLU Letter Supporting H.R. 261 (12/06/2007)
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its 53 affiliates, we write in support of H.R. 261, the Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2007. This legislation provides for the early release of non-violent offenders over the age of 45 who have not been convicted of a violent crime, have not attempted to escape from incarceration and have not violated prison disciplinary rules.

ACLU Letter in Support of H.R. 1889, the Private Prison Information Act of 2007 (11/09/2007)

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