American Civil Liberties Union

Prisoners' Rights:
The ACLU's National Prison Project is the only national litigation program on behalf of prisoners. Since 1972, the NPP has represented more than 100,000 men, women and children. The NPP continues to fight unconstitutional conditions and the "lock 'em up" mentality that prevails in the legislatures. Learn more about our project and take action to protect the rights guaranteed to all Americans.


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ACLU Lawsuit Charges Grossly Inadequate Medical Care At State Prison In Nevada
After months of inaction during which prisoners have been forced to endure inhumane pain and suffering as a result of untreated medical conditions, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit against top corrections and government officials in Nevada in an effort to prompt much-needed sweeping improvements in the level of care given to inmates.
> News: ACLU Lawsuit Charges Grossly Inadequate Medical Care At State Prison In Nevada (3/6/2008)
> Learn More: The ACLU's Work at the Ely State Prison

screen shot of Alabama prisoner

Alabama Department of Corrections Continues to Deny Programs to HIV-Positive Prisoners
Despite ongoing negotiations with attorneys and staff from the ACLU's National Prison Project and the ACLU of Alabama, the Alabama Department of Corrections continues to be the only correctional system in America that denies HIV-positive inmates access to its work release program. Learn more >>
> ACLU Calls on the Alabama Department of Corrections to Expand Programs for HIV-Positive Prisoners (12/11/2007)
> Letter to ADOC Commissioner Richard F. Allen from the ACLU (9/28/2007)

Prisoner Rights : Medical Care : Press Releases view all

Inmates With Disabilities Face Discrimination In Los Angeles County Jails (05/29/2008)
LOS ANGELES –People with disabilities face inhumane treatment and illegal discrimination in the Los Angeles County jail system because it routinely fails to accommodatetheir needs. Today, civil and disability rights attorneysare filing suit in U.S. District Court to stop the mistreatment.

ACLU Welcomes Immigration Detention Medical Treatment Legislation (05/05/2008)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union applauds Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) for introducing H.R. 5950, the Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008. This legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop procedures to ensure adequate medical care for all detainees held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The legislation also requires ICE to report detainee deaths to the DHS and Department of Justice Offices of Inspector General.

ACLU Lawsuit Charges Grossly Inadequate Medical Care At State Prison In Nevada (03/06/2008)
ELY, NV – The American Civil Liberties Union filed a class-action lawsuit today against the director of Nevada’s Department of Corrections and other top governmental officials in Nevada for failing to rectify a pervasive pattern of grossly inadequate medical care at the Ely State Prison that creates a substantial risk of serious medical harm for each of the prison’s 1,000 inmates. The lawsuit charges that the prison lacks the most basic elements of an adequate prison health care system and deprives prisoners of the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities.

ACLU Calls on Nevada Governor to Address Grossly Inadequate Prison Health Care (12/06/2007)
ELY, NV –The American Civil Liberties Union today called on Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons to investigate deficient medical care at Ely State Prison (ESP), home of Nevada’s death row where, according to a report by a medical expert commissioned by the ACLU, gravely ill prisoners are denied treatment for excruciatingly painful and potentially fatal medical conditions. The ACLU sent the report – along with a letter demanding that the state commit the resources necessary to carry out needed systemic reforms – to Gibbons today after conferring about the problem for several months with Nevada Department of Corrections Director, Howard Skolnik.

ACLU Challenges Virginia Law Excluding Prisoners From FOIA (12/06/2007)
RICHMOND, VA – The ACLU of Virginia was in court this morning seeking to overturn a Virginia statute that prevents prisoners from using the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain public documents. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit heard oral arguments in the case.

Prisoner Rights : Medical Care : Publications

Analysis: Cost of Excluding AL State Prisoners with HIV/AIDS from Community Corrections Programs (04/29/2003)

Hepatitis C Emerges as Major Health Threat in U.S. Prisons (05/31/2002)
Individuals confined in prisons and jails suffer disproportionately from Hepatitis C infection. Despite proven medical treatments, many prisoners receive no care for their illness.

Prisoner Rights : Medical Care : Legal Documents view all

Riker v. Gibbons - Complaint (03/06/2008)

ACLU Proposed Consent Decree for Ely State Prison (01/04/2008)

ACLU letter to Governor Gibbons (12/06/2007)
ACLU requests meeting with Nevada governor to discuss grossly inadequate medical care at Nevada's Ely State Prison

ACLU letter to NDOC Director Skolnik (12/06/2007)
ACLU letter explains the need for dramatic improvements to medical care for prisoners at Ely State Prison

Expert Report by Dr. Noel on Medical Care at Ely State Prison (12/06/2007)
The ACLU retained Dr. Noel as a medical expert to study medical care provided to prisoners at Ely State Prisons after a series of complaints about inadequate treatment.

Prisoner Rights : Medical Care : Legislative Documents view all

ACLU testimony before House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees at a hearing regarding immigrant detainee medical care (06/04/2008)

Testimony of Dr. Allen Keller for the House Immigration Subcommittee Hearing Detention and Removal: Immigration Detainee Medical Care (10/04/2007)

Testimony of Edwidge Danticat for the House Immigration Subcommittee Hearing Detention and Removal: Immigration Detainee Medical Care (10/04/2007)

Testimony of Tom Jawetz for the House Immigration Subcommittee Hearing Detention and Removal: Immigration Detainee Medical Care (10/04/2007)

Testimony of June Everett for the House Immigration Subcommittee Hearing Detention and Removal: Immigration Detainee Medical Care (10/04/2007)

Prisoner Rights : Medical Care : Resources

ACLU Sues Over Lack of Medical Treatment at San Diego Detention Facility (06/13/2007)

ACLU LGRP Letter to Franklin County Correction Center (01/16/2004)

Prisoner Rights : Medical Care : Fact Sheets

Know Your Rights: Pregnancy-Related Health Care in Prison or Jail (08/16/2006)
Information on inmates' right to pregnancy-related care while incarcerated.

Know Your Rights: Medical, Dental and Mental Health Care (06/02/2006)

Prisoner Rights : Medical Care : Court Cases

Health Care at Ely State Prison (03/06/2008)
ACLU Lawsuit Charges Grossly Inadequate Medical Care At State Prison In Nevada

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