Drug Law Reform News

ACLU Honors Regina Kelly, Plaintiff In Landmark Civil Rights Case, With Baldwin Medal Of Liberty Award

Jessica Monaco — 2009-10-24T00:00:00-05:00

(Updated 10/29/2009)

Award-Winning Actress Alfre Woodard, Civil Rights Groups and ACLU Members And Staff Join to Recognize Kelly's Outstanding Contributions at Special Ceremony in New York City

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org

Legislation To End Crack Cocaine Sentencing Disparity Introduced In Senate Today

amanda_simon — 2009-10-15T00:00:00-05:00

WASHINGTON – A bill was introduced today in the Senate that would eliminate the discriminatory disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing under federal law. The bill, the Fair Sentencing Act of 2009, was introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and would also eliminate the mandatory five-year sentence for simple possession of crack. A similar bill, H.R. 3245, the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009, is currently awaiting a vote in the House.

ACLU of Arizona Urges Governor to Veto Bill Denying Benefits to Domestic Partners, Welfare Recipients

pbradshaw — 2009-09-04T00:00:00-05:00

PHOENIX, AZ – Saying budget proposals to drug test welfare recipients and deny benefits to domestic partners are misguided and discriminatory, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona today sent a letter to Governor Jan Brewer urging her to veto H.B. 2013.

Federal Court Signs Off On Agreement To Permanently Halt Random Teacher Drug Testing In West Virginia

daniel_berger — 2009-08-21T00:00:00-05:00

CHARLESTON, WV - A federal court today signed off on a formal agreement to permanently block the proposed random, suspicionless drug testing of Kanawha County public school employees. The Court’s order approves an agreement between the Kanawha County Board of Education and the nation’s two largest teachers’ unions, represented in part by the American Civil Liberties Union, which had brought a legal challenge arguing that drug testing without cause violates public servants’ constitutional right to privacy.

Key House Committee Votes To End Crack Cocaine Sentencing Disparity

amanda_simon — 2009-07-29T00:00:00-05:00

WASHINGTON – The House Judiciary Committee today voted to pass a bill that would eliminate the discriminatory disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing under federal law. Today’s vote clears the way for H.R. 3245, the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009, to be voted on by the full House. The bill removes references to “cocaine base” from the U.S. federal code and takes the welcome step of removing the five-year mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack cocaine.

House Subcommittee Takes First Congressional Vote To End Crack Cocaine Sentencing Disparity

linda_paris — 2009-07-22T00:00:00-05:00

WASHINGTON – The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security voted on an historic markup today of the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009, a bill that would result in the elimination of the unjust and discriminatory disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentences under federal law. H.R. 3245, sponsored by Representative Robert Scott (D-VA), removes references to “cocaine base” from the U.S. federal code and takes the welcome step of removing the five-year mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack cocaine.

City of Santa Monica Is Sued for Its Throwback Policy of Treating Disabled Homeless People as Criminals

pbradshaw — 2009-07-14T00:00:00-05:00

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The ACLU of Southern California and the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP sued the city of Santa Monica today for violating the constitutional rights of chronically homeless people by arresting and harassing them even though the city lacks sufficient shelter space for these homeless persons to sleep. The lawsuit – on behalf of certain homeless residents suffering from mental and physical disabilities – was filed in federal district court in Los Angeles.

ACLU Challenges Miami-Dade County's 2,500-Foot Sex Offender Residency Restriction

pbradshaw — 2009-07-09T00:00:00-05:00

MIAMI – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed a lawsuit today against Miami-Dade County alleging that the county's 2,500-foot residency restriction for registered sex offenders interferes with the State of Florida's comprehensive program for law enforcement and corrections officers to monitor and supervise released offenders.

U.S. Supreme Court Declares Strip Search Of 13-Year-Old Student Unconstitutional

pbradshaw — 2009-06-25T00:00:00-05:00

WASHINGTON â€“ The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that school officials violated the constitutional rights of a 13-year-old Arizona girl when they strip searched her based on a classmate's uncorroborated accusation that she previously possessed ibuprofen. The American Civil Liberties Union represents April Redding, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, whose daughter, Savana Redding, was strip searched by Safford Middle School officials six years ago.

ACLU & ACLJ Sue Holmes County After Government Unlawfully Takes Resident's Property

pbradshaw — 2009-06-09T00:00:00-05:00

BONIFAY, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida and the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ) served a complaint yesterday against Holmes County on behalf of their client Daniel Stone, alleging that county officials abused their power by destroying and taking part of Stone's property in an act of retribution. The lawsuit was filed in state circuit court.