The rights guaranteed to criminal suspects, defendants, offenders and prisoners are not mere technicalities. They are fundamental political rights that protect all Americans from governmental abuse of power. These rights include the guarantee against unreasonable search and seizure, the right to reasonable bail, the right to due process of law and the right to be free from cruel and unusual treatment—and they are indispensable to a free society. Yet crime control policies all too often assume that harsher law enforcement policies and longer prison sentences can solve the problem. The ACLU works to puncture this “tough on crime” rhetoric, safeguard fundamental liberties, and advocate for sensible, evidence-based reforms of criminal legal policies.
Criminal Legal Reform
Benjamin v. Colbert – Challenging D.C. Jail’s Failure to Provide Religious Dietary Accommodations
August 10, 2023Bread for the City v. District of Columbia – Challenging Discrimination in Mental Health Emergency Response Services
August 3, 2023ACLU V. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE – FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CASE REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN FEDERAL PRISONS
March 31, 2022
ESCALANTE V. U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT - SEEKING COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS FOR MEDICALLY VULNERABLE ICE DETAINEES (Second Case)
March 3, 2022ACLU V. U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE – SEEKING TO UNCOVER AN IMPROPER SCHEME TO OPERATE A PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITY
February 15, 2022AAMIR SHAIKH V. U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) – SEEKING COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS FOR MEDICALLY VULNERABLE ICE DETAINEES
February 7, 2022
ACLU Urges BLOCKING ENACTMENT OF D.C.’s REVISED CRIMINAL CODE ACT OF 2022 DULY ENACTED BY THE D.C. COUNCIL
March 7, 2023ACLU-DC Testifies at Performance Oversight Hearing on the Department of Corrections and Corrections Information Council
March 1, 2023Letter to the D.C. Council Regarding the Anti-SLAPP Amendment Act
December 5, 2022
ACLU-DC Testifies at the Budget Oversight Hearing for The Metropolitan Police Department
March 30, 2022ACLU-DC Testifies at Judiciary and Public Safety Performance Oversight Hearing for The Metropolitan Police Department
February 17, 2022ACLU-DC Testimony before the DC Council on the Strengthening Oversight and Accountability of Police Amendment Act
October 21, 2021
The Latest
D.C. Department of Corrections Stops Denying Kosher Meals to Jewish...
August 28, 2023ACLU-D.C. Files Religious Freedom Lawsuit Against the D.C....
August 10, 2023COURT OF APPEALS DENIES CONSTITUTIONAL CLAIMS AGAINST FEDERAL...
June 23, 2023ACLU-DC Statement on President Biden vetoing attempt to block D.C....
May 25, 2023
D.C. Native Artecka Brown Brings Healing to Chocolate City
May 19, 2023
D.C. needs police accountability. Congress and the President should...
April 4, 2023ACLU-D.C. Statement on President Biden's Signaling to Overturn...
March 2, 2023