Press Releases
about Smart Justice
Apr 02, 2020
ACLU Of Hawai’i And Lawyers for Equal Justice File Amicus Brief Supporting Public Defender’s Petition to Release Incarcerated People During Covid-19 Pandemic
HONOLULU – Last week, the Hawai‘i Office of the Public Defender filed two petitions asking the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court to, among other things, appoint a special master to consid...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Apr 02, 2020
Louisiana Chief Justice Urges District Judges to Reduce Jail Populations Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
NEW ORLEANS – As public health experts continue to sound the alarm about the threat of COVID-19 in overcrowded prisons and jails, Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson urged dist...
Issue Areas:
Prisoners' Rights
Smart Justice
Apr 01, 2020
Governor's Directive on COVID-19 and the Criminal Legal System Too Late, and Far Too Little
“Unfortunately, Governor Bullock’s directive regarding state correctional facilities lacks a sense of urgency, even as we face a crisis. State and local governments must heed p...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Prisoners' Rights
Mar 30, 2020
ACLU of Connecticut Reaction to First Positive COVID-19 Test of an Adult Incarcerated in Connecticut
HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut Department of Correction today announced that a man who is incarcerated at Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center tested positive for COVID-19. ...
Issue Areas:
Prisoners' Rights
Smart Justice
Mar 30, 2020
Public Defender Service, ACLU-DC Challenge D.C. Jail’s Failure to Protect Incarcerated Individuals From COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON – The ACLU of the District of Columbia and the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia today sued the D.C. Department of Corrections for its flagrant disr...
Issue Areas:
Prisoners' Rights
Smart Justice
Mar 30, 2020
Governor Abbott’s Executive Order Undermines Public Safety, ACLU of Texas Responds
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order Sunday denying the release from jail of anyone accused of certain crimes if they could not afford to pay bail. The ...
Issue Areas:
Smart Justice
Prisoners' Rights
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 or leave a voicemail at (212) 549-2666.
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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