Police officers have the vital and difficult job of protecting public safety – a job they must perform without trampling individuals’ civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU works to ensure that police officers interact with the public on a race-neutral basis and with respect for individuals’ constitutional rights. Through policy advocacy and in court, we hold police officers and agencies accountable to the public that they serve.
Police Practices and Police Misconduct
ACLU-DC v. District of Columbia – Challenging D.C. Police’s Failure to Release Stop-and-Frisk Data
February 16, 2021Black Lives Matter D.C. v. Trump – Challenging Federal Officers’ Unprovoked Attack on Civil Rights Demonstrators at Lafayette Square in Front of the White House
June 4, 2020Mwimanzi v. Wilson – Challenging Unconstitutional Sexually Invasive Search by MPD Officer
January 13, 2020
Price v. Gupton - Challenging Warrantless Search of Residential Property Belonging to Mother Whose Son Had Just Been Killed by D.C. Police
April 29, 2019Baxter v. Bracey - Challenge to Qualified Immunity Doctrine, Which Shields Officials from Accountability When They Violate the Constitution
April 8, 2019Arthur v. District of Columbia Housing Authority - Asserting Disability Rights Claim For Deaf Public-Housing Tenant Denied Visits from Her Son Because She Couldn’t Hear Her Phone
August 30, 2018
ACLU-DC Testimony at the Performance Oversight Hearing on the Metropolitan Police Department
March 11, 2021Letter to Metropolitan Police Department Police Chief Peter Newsham Regarding Possible Protest Activity During 2020 General Election and 2021 Inauguration
October 30, 2020ACLU-DC Testimony before the DC Council Committee on the WMATA Police Accountability Amendment Act
October 27, 2020
ACLU-DC Testifies Before the D.C. Council Committee on the Comprehensive Police and Justice Reform Amendment Act
October 15, 2020ACLU-DC Testimony Before the DC Council Committee on the Sanctuary Values Amendment Act
October 1, 2020Bill 22-189, the “Drug-Related Nuisance Abatement Act of 2017"
January 25, 2018
The Latest
D.C. Police Officers Coordinated with Federal Law Enforcement to...
July 8, 2020
ACLU Statement on Metro Transit Police Officer’s Use of Taser on...
July 2, 2019In Response to Request for Race Data on Traffic Stops, D.C. Police...
June 13, 2019ACLU-DC Budget Oversight Hearing Statement on the Office of Police...
March 27, 2019ACLU-DC Performance Oversight Hearing Statement on the Metropolitan...
February 7, 2019
ACLU-DC Settles Case Against D.C. Police Officer for Anal Search...
December 6, 2018
Civil Rights Groups Seek Court Order Against D.C. Mayor Muriel...
May 8, 2018