Press Releases
about Smart Justice
Mar 25, 2021
New Legislation Seeks to Address Louisiana鈥檚 High Pretrial Incarceration Rate by Curbing Prolonged Jail Stays
House Bill 46, introduced by Rep. Ted James and Rep. Edmond Jordan, would shorten the amount of time Louisianans can be jailed without charge
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Feb 26, 2021
ACLU of Louisiana Statement on DA Jason Williams Granting New Trials to Those Convicted by Split Juries
The ACLU of Louisiana released the following statement commending New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams for granting new trials to 22 defendants convicted by split juries be...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Feb 18, 2021
ACLU Outlines Key Priorities for Biden鈥檚 Department of Justice
WASHINGTON 鈥� Ahead of Attorney General-designate Merrick Garland's Senate confirmation hearing, the American Civil Liberties Union urged him to make strong, on-the-record commitm...
Feb 18, 2021
South Dakota Senate Committee Kills Compassionate Parole Bill
Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to kill Senate Bill 163, legislation that would have revised the eligibility requirements for compassionate parole.
The ACLU of South Da...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Feb 08, 2021
Lancaster, California Sued Over Unlawful Citation System Targeting Poor People
The ACLU of Southern California and University of California-Irvine Filed the Suit
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Feb 01, 2021
ACLU of Alabama Statement on Governor Ivey Signing Prison Contracts
The ACLU of Alabama condemns Governor Ivey鈥檚 reckless decision to put the state of Alabama into a multi-billion-dollar lease to build new prisons, despite overwhelming opposition...
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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.