Press Releases
about Smart Justice
Dec 21, 2015
ACLU Announces New Trone Center for Criminal Justice Reform and Advisory Board of Private Sector and Education Leaders to Promote Reintegration
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union announced the creation of the Trone Center for Criminal Justice Reform. The Center, located at the ACLU national headquarters, will fo...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Dec 18, 2015
ACLU Comment on President Obama’s Commutations and Pardons
WASHINGTON, DC – The White House announced that the federal prison sentences of 95 people would be commuted. Two people were pardoned. Five of those with commuted sentences were ...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Nov 18, 2015
Baltimore Jail Settlement to Bring Major Improvements in Medical Care, Facilities
BALTIMORE – The Public Justice Center, the Law Offices of Elizabeth Alexander, and the American Civil Liberties Union today announced a settlement agreement in Duvall v. Hogan, t...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Prisoners' Rights
Nov 12, 2015
ACLU Asks Obama to Pardon Puerto Rican Independence Activist
The American Civil Liberties Union today made a plea asking for a presidential pardon to commute the disproportionate sentence and order the release of Puerto Rican Independence ac...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Human Rights
Oct 06, 2015
ACLU Comment on First Release of Federal Prisoners After Changes in Draconian Drug Laws
WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Justice announced that 6,000 federal prisoners will be released between October 30 and November 2, some to halfway houses.They are eligible for...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Criminal Law Reform
Oct 06, 2015
Lawsuit Challenges Benton County’s Modern-Day Debtors’ Prison
Suit Says County Violates Constitution by Jailing People Who Are Too Poor to Pay Court-Imposed Debts
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Racial Justice
Court case: Fuentes v. Benton County
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.