Press Releases
about Smart Justice
Sep 15, 2016
Notorious Private Prison Closes Today in Walnut Grove, Mississippi
WALNUT GROVE, Miss. — The Mississippi Department of Corrections closed Walnut Grove Correctional Facility today, a prison operated under contract with the state by the Management...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Aug 30, 2016
President Obama Announces a Second Set of More than 100 Clemency Grants This Month
WASHINGTON — In his second set of clemency grants this month, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 111 prisoners today, 72 of whom were applicants whose petitions wer...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Aug 18, 2016
Justice Department Tells Bureau of Prisons to Phase Out Private Prisons
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced today that it is ordering the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to begin phasing out its use of private prisons.
The order, announc...
Issue Areas:
Prisoners' Rights
Smart Justice
Jun 03, 2016
President Commutes Life Without Parole Sentence of ACLU Client Douglas Ray Dunkins Jr.
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama today commuted the sentences of 42 people, including Douglas Ray Dunkins Jr., 50, who has been serving life without parole for a nonviolent dr...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
May 23, 2016
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Contempt Order Against Corrections Corporation of America
BOISE, Idaho – A federal appeals court has upheld a contempt order against Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) for violating terms of a settlement agreement over how it oper...
Issue Areas:
Prisoners' Rights
Smart Justice
Court case: Kelly v. Wengler
May 19, 2016
Clemency Project 2014 Surpasses 1,000 Submitted Clemency Petitions
WASHINGTON — Last week, Clemency Project 2014 surpassed the milestone of 1,000 clemency petitions submitted to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, with many more nearing submissio...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
About the ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union has media staff available to handle inquiries from journalists on national issues affecting civil liberties, including questions on legislative matters that touch on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms and inquiries related to ACLU lawsuits.
To schedule an interview with an ACLU expert, email media@aclu.org.
Contact an ACLU Affiliate
The ACLU has 54 local offices across the U.S. working with attorneys and activists in their communities to shape better policies and spread awareness about their states' priority civil rights issues.
Local inquiries should be directed to the appropriate ACLU state affiliate.
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PennsylvaniaJul 2024
Smart Justice
Criminal Law Reform
Horton v. Rangos (Amicus Brief)Horton v. Rangos (Amicus Brief)
This case challenges the government’s authority to incarcerate individuals accused of probation violations for months or years without meaningfully assessing their risk to the community. -
TexasJun 2024
Smart Justice
+3 Issues
Gonzalez v. Ramirez et al.Gonzalez v. Ramirez et al.
Although Texas law clearly prohibits prosecuting people for terminating their pregnancies, Starr County officials indicted, arrested, and jailed Lizelle Gonzalez for having an abortion. The ACLU’s Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative and Criminal Law Reform Project, alongside the ACLU of Texas and south Texas firm Garza Martinez, are representing Ms. Gonzalez in a lawsuit against Starr County and local officials based on violations of Ms. Gonzalez’s constitutional rights. -
News & CommentaryMar 2024
Smart Justice
Criminal Law Reform
President Biden's Order to Ban Private Prisons Faces a Persistent Internal Challenge: The U.S. Marshals ServicePresident Biden's Order to Ban Private Prisons Faces a Persistent Internal Challenge: The U.S. Marshals Service
Three years after President Biden ordered federal agencies to end prison profiteering, the Marshals Service continues to sidestep the ban. -
News & CommentaryJan 2024
Smart Justice
Jury JusticeJury Justice
A class-action lawsuit challenges the permanent exclusion of people with felony convictions from serving on juries.