Together, We’re Changing the Face of Crisis Response in D.C.
The D.C. Crisis Response Coalition is leading the charge to protect community members who need support during mental health crises.
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Champions of Justice: Get to know the 2023 slate of members of ACLU-D.C.'s Board of Directors
Learn about the 2023 slate for the ACLU-D.C. Board of Directors! And get ready to join us at our annual membership meeting.
4 Facts You Need to Know About Disability Rights in D.C.
Disability laws are an important tool for building a more just and free D.C. Here’s what you need to know about disability rights in the District.
Latest Press Releases
D.C. Department of Corrections Stops Denying Kosher Meals to Jewish Residents of the D.C. Jail
The D.C. Department of Corrections has revised its religious diet policy in response to a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of the District of Columbia on behalf of Riley Benjamin, a Jewish resident.
ACLU-D.C. Files Religious Freedom Lawsuit Against the D.C. Department of Corrections
ACLU-D.C. sues D.C. Department of Correction, challenging the denial of kosher meals to Jewish inmates without external faith verification, violating religious rights.
Lawsuit Challenges Unequal Response to Mental Health Emergencies in Washington, DC
We’re representing Bread for the City in a federal lawsuit challenging the District’s practice of sending police to mental health emergencies instead of mental health professionals.
Police-Free Schools: Love Us, Don't Harm Us
We are demanding police-free schools!
It’s simple: Invest in the social-emotional health and well-being of youth. We need increased mental health supports with development and support for qualified teachers to reduce reliance on permanent substitutes.
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In the Courts
One of the main ways ACLU-D.C. works to protect civil liberties and civil rights is through litigation.
We litigate in the federal courts and in the local courts, and at every level: from D.C. Superior Court to the Supreme Court of the United States. Sometimes we’re able to solve a problem by just writing a letter.
Bread for the City v. District of Columbia – Challenging Discrimination in Mental Health Emergency Response Services
When people in D.C. call 911 for a mental health emergency, it’s generally a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who responds. The District’s reliance on police as its default first responders for mental health emergencies is not only unfair and unsafe but also unlawful.
Bread for the City v. District of Columbia – Challenging Discrimination in Mental Health Emergency Response Services 
