American Civil Liberties Union

Abuse by police continues to be a major civil liberties problem in the U.S., particularly for the poor and for people of color.  Everyone needs and deserves effective and humane law enforcement in communities and courtrooms.


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Police Practices : Press Releases

ACLU Challenges Police "Gag Rule" in Rhode Island (11/14/2000)
PROVIDENCE, RI--The ACLU of Rhode Island today filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a Providence Police Department "gag rule" which prevents police officers from talking to the media without approval of the police chief.

Court Rules that Tragic Police Outing of Gay Teen Violated Constitutional Rights; ACLU Sees Broad Impact (11/07/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a solid victory for the privacy rights of lesbian and gay Americans -- and particularly for young gay people -- a Federal Appeals Court ruled late yesterday that police violated a gay teen's constitutional rights when they threatened to tell his family that he was gay. The boy committed suicide after the threat was made.

Major Victory in Tragic Case of Teen Outing Will Have Broad Impact for LGBT Youth (11/07/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a solid victory for the privacy rights of lesbian and gay Americans -- and particularly for young gay people -- a Federal Appeals Court ruled late yesterday that police violated a gay teen's constitutional rights when they threatened to tell his family that he was gay. The boy committed suicide after the threat was made.

ACLU Says Government Stacked Deck in Selection of Team to Review "Carnivore" Cyber-tapping System (10/04/2000)
WASHINGTON--The American Civil Liberties Union today sharply criticized the Federal government's selection of academic experts to review a sophisticated FBI Internet surveillance tool known as Carnivore, saying that many of them have ties to the federal law enforcement agencies and the White House.

Citing Strictures, Universities Decline to Review FBI's 'Carnivore' System (09/06/2000)
ATLANTA -- Academic institutions will likely pass up the chance to audit the federal government's Internet monitoring system, citing strict controls that would prevent an independent review, researchers said Wednesday, according to CNN.com news.

Reno Plans Study of FBI's "Carnivore" (08/10/2000)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Justice Department plans to hire a major university to analyze the FBI's ``Carnivore'' e-mail surveillance system, but civil libertarians said such a review can't answer all the questions about the system, the Associated Press reported.

Too Little, Too Late: ACLU Disappointed by Administration Speech on Electronic Privacy (07/17/2000)
WASHINGTON -- This morning's speech on electronic privacy by White House Chief of Staff John Podesta was deeply disappointing. The Administration missed an important opportunity to issue an executive order that would have immediately restrained Federal law enforcement. Instead, it only offered legislative proposals that are highly unlikely to be adopted this year. 

In Unique Tactic, ACLU Seeks FBI Computer Code on "Carnivore" and Other Cybersnoop Programs (07/14/2000)
WASHINGTON -- In what may be the first request of its kind, the American Civil Liberties Union is asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation to disclose the computer source code and other technical details about its new Internet wiretapping programs.

ACLU Comments on Beating of Suspect by Philadelphia Police Caught on Videotape (07/13/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania is profoundly disturbed that Thomas Jones sustained significant injuries as the result of what appears to be an excessive use of force by Philadelphia police officers. The videotape reveals an arrest situation that was completely out of control.

ACLU Urges Congress to Put a Leash on "Carnivore" And Other Government Snoopware Programs (07/12/2000)
WASHINGTON -- Law enforcement officials using new surveillance technologies online are racing far ahead of established privacy law and must be reined in, the American Civil Liberties Union said today.

Frisking Photo Puts Whitman on Defensive (07/10/2000)
TRENTON, NJ -- After enduring two years of criticism for the racial profiling practices of her state troopers, Gov. Christine Todd Whitman has a new public relations problem, The New York Times reported: a photo of the governor herself, grinning as she frisks a black man.

ACLU Report Says Response To Seattle WTO Protests was 'Flawed, Out of Control' (07/05/2000)
SEATTLE -- Drawing on more than 500 eyewitness accounts, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State today released a comprehensive examination of civil liberties violations that occurred here last fall during the World Trade Organization conference.

ACLU of Southern CA Commends High Court's Affirmation of Miranda Rights in Two Key Cases (06/26/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California applauded the U.S. Supreme Court's dual affirmation of suspects' Miranda rights in two decisions issued today.

Attack on Terrorism Misses Target, Hits America's Freedoms Instead, Charges the ACLU (06/05/2000)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today criticized a new report by the National Commission on Terrorism, which included several disturbing recommendations, including putting the Pentagon in charge when there is a terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

Top Cops Call on Next President to Form National Commission on Police Misconduct (06/03/2000)
DENVER -- According to a story in today's Denver Post, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is calling for the creation of a commission to conduct a comprehensive review of law enforcement nationwide in the wake of police misconduct and racial profiling incidents in a variety of communities.

ACLU Calls on Attorney General to Justify Use of Force in Removing Elian Gonzalez (04/24/2000)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union has long objected to the overuse of force by government authorities when a lesser degree of force would be sufficient. We are therefore troubled by the use of a heavily armed SWAT team with guns drawn to remove Elian Gonzalez from the home of his Miami relatives on Saturday. If the Attorney General has reason to believe that such a degree of force was necessary, she should present that evidence to the American people without delay.

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