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Human Rights, Justice Advocate Jennifer Bellamy Is New ACLU Counsel for Criminal Justice (11/06/2008)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union today announced that Jennifer Bellamy is the new legislative counsel for criminal justice issues for the Washington Legislative Office in advance of her remarks on juvenile justice in an Obama administration. In Bellamy’s new role, she advocates on behalf of more than 500,000 ACLU members on a broad range of criminal justice issues including juvenile justice and drug policy reform, eliminating racial disparities in law enforcement practices and strengthening privacy protections for personal information such as DNA.

ACLU Releases Presidential Transition Plan To Restore Civil Liberties (10/27/2008)
WASHINGTON – In anticipation of the presidential election, the American Civil Liberties Union today released a set of detailed recommendations on steps that the new president should take to “clean house,” renew freedom, and restore the nation’s reputation.

Congress Should Demand Answers from Attorney General (07/23/2008)
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union urges the House Judiciary Committee to demand accountability from Attorney General Michael Mukasey during the Department of Justice oversight hearing scheduled for today.

Indefensibly Shortchanged Justice (07/23/2008)

ACLU Opposes Expansion of Federal DNA Program to Arrestee Testing (06/12/2008)
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union urges Congress to oppose an amendment sponsored by Representative Adam B. Schiff (D-CA) that is designed to test arrestees as part of an expansion of the federal DNA program. Schiff’s amendment, which recently passed the House Judiciary Committee, will provide incentives for state law enforcement officials to create a permanent DNA database of arrestees that includes people who are detained on misdemeanor charges, wrongfully arrested and others.

Court-Ordered Emergency Action Needed to Address New York State’s Unconstitutional Public Defense System, NYCLU Charges (03/27/2008)
The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a request for immediate emergency relief to address New York State’s broken public defense system.

Advocates Stand Together for Fairness in Federal Sentencing (02/26/2008)
Washington, DC – On Tuesday, February 26, activists from around the country, civil rights and professional organizations stood together to call for much-needed reform to the country’s federal sentencing laws. This press briefing and lobby event marked the culmination of a month-long series of events aimed at addressing the 20-year-old sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. According to current guidelines, a conviction for the sale of 500 grams of powder cocaine results in a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence, while the same penalty is triggered for sale or possession of only 5 grams of crack cocaine.

ACLU Cheers USSC Decision to Apply New Drug Sentencing Guidelines Retroactively (12/11/2007)
Washington, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s decision to apply recent changes in federal crack cocaine sentencing guidelines retroactively. Thousands of offenders were sentenced under the previous guidelines, which unfairly and erroneously required them to serve more than the mandatory minimum sentence required by law. Thanks to the USSC’s decision, such offenders will now have the opportunity to appear before the court and have their case reviewed by a judge.

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.

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.

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.

ACLU Alarmed At Justice Department Move to Collect DNA, Violates Privacy Rights and Causes Further Delays in Overwhelmed System (02/05/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union criticized the Justice Department’s move to collect DNA samples of individuals who are arrested or detained by federal authorities - even if they are not convicted, or charged with a crime. That collection was authorized in an amendment authored by Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to the Violence Against Women Act in 2005.

ACLU Welcomes Attorney-Client Privilege Protection Act, Says Bill Would Safeguard Constitutional Right to Counsel (12/07/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union put the weight of its over 550,000 members behind Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) today as he introduced legislation to guard the Constitution’s guarantee to fair legal representation. His bill, the “Attorney-Client Privilege Protection Act of 2006,” would allow prosecutors to pursue information they believe is not confidential but would recognize and protect valid claims of attorney-client privilege.

ACLU Testifies Before United States Sentencing Commission for Fair Drug Sentencing Policies (11/14/2006)
WASHINGTON - Jesselyn McCurdy, Legislative Counsel at the ACLU Washington Legislative Office, testified today at a public hearing held by the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) about the continued unfairness and racial impact of federal drug sentencing policy. Despite repeated recommendations by the USSC, Congress has not addressed a 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between distribution of powder and crack cocaine.

ACLU Urges Ohio Supreme Court to Restore Fair Trials (10/24/2006)
COLUMBUS, OH -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today called on the state Supreme Court to revise Ohio’s rules for criminal prosecutions to ensure that persons accused of crimes will have timely access to the evidence against them. Currently, the law permits the state to conceal some evidence, which the ACLU says sets up an unfair system of “trial by ambush.”

ACLU Urges Florida Candidates to Clarify Position on Restoration of Civil Rights (10/20/2006)
TALLAHASSEE, FL -- In a letter sent today to the two major party candidates for governor, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida urged Attorney General Charlie Crist and Congressman Jim Davis to clarify their position on the restoration of civil and voting rights to former felons. The ACLU is asking the candidates to make it clear that they will use the authority of the governor to make a change in the system of lifetime disfranchisement.

New Jersey Citizens on Parole and Probation Bring Plea For Right to Vote to Human Rights Body (09/14/2006)
NEWARK -- The American Civil Liberties Union and the Rutgers Law School Constitutional Litigation Clinic filed a petition today urging the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to rule that denying New Jersey citizens on parole and probation the right to vote violates universal human rights principles.

U.N. Human Rights Body Slams Louisiana Actions During Katrina (07/28/2006)
NEW ORLEANS — A United Nations human rights body today criticized Louisiana officials for their actions during Hurricane Katrina, including a police blockade on Gretna New Orleans Bridge, which left thousands of mostly black residents trapped in the city, and the failure to evacuate prisoners from the flooded Orleans Parish Prison. The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, which has long called for investigations into the conditions at the prison and on the bridge, welcomed the report and its recommendations.