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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Prisoner Rights : Restriction of Rights : Press Releases view all

HIV-Positive Prisoners Receive More Equal Treatment in Alabama After ACLU's Efforts (11/01/2007)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- After years of advocacy by the American Civil Liberties Union, AIDS Alabama and state legislators, the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) has agreed to give HIV-positive prisoners greater access to visitation, educational programs, substance abuse treatment programs, and religious services. Until now, HIV-positive prisoners have been denied these programs and services offered to the general population of inmates.

New Jersey Citizens on Parole and Probation Bring Plea For Right to Vote to Human Rights Body (09/14/2006)
NEWARK -- The American Civil Liberties Union and the Rutgers Law School Constitutional Litigation Clinic filed a petition today urging the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to rule that denying New Jersey citizens on parole and probation the right to vote violates universal human rights principles.

ACLU of Rhode Island Files Appeal on Behalf of Christian Prisoner Barred from Preaching at Religious Services (01/12/2006)
PROVIDENCE, RI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island announced today that it has filed an appeal in federal court on behalf of a Christian prisoner who was barred from preaching during religious services at the state prison.

Colorado Agrees to Restore Jewish Prisoner's Kosher Diet in Response to ACLU Lawsuit (10/13/2005)
COLARADO SPRINGS -- In response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado the Department of Corrections (DOC) has agreed to resume providing kosher meals to Timothy Sheline, a Jewish prisoner whose kosher diet was revoked for one year as punishment for allegedly violating a minor dining hall rule.COLARADO SPRINGS -- In response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado the Department of Corrections (DOC) has agreed to resume providing kosher meals to Timothy Sheline, a Jewish prisoner whose kosher diet was revoked for one year as punishment for allegedly violating a minor dining hall rule.

ACLU Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Protecting Religious Liberty in Prisons (05/31/2005)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded an unusual unanimous vote by the Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of a federal law that requires states to allow prisoners to practice their religious beliefs.

Prisoner Rights : Restriction of Rights : Legislative Documents view all

Testimony on PLRA - SAVE Coalition (04/22/2008)
Testimony before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

Testimony on PLRA - Stephen Bright, Founder of the Southern Center for Human Rights (04/22/2008)
Testimony before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

Testimony on PLRA - Caroline Fredrickson and Elizabeth Alexander, ACLU (04/22/2008)
Before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security regarding the Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109).

Testimony on PLRA - Jeanne Woodford, Former Warden of San Quentin Prison (04/22/2008)
Testimony before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

Testimony on PLRA - Ernie Preate, Former Pennsylvania Attorney General (04/22/2008)
Testimony before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

Prisoner Rights : Restriction of Rights : Resources

Alabama Department of Corrections Continues to Deny Programs to HIV-Positive Prisoners (12/11/2007)

Letter to ACLU from the Alabama Department of Corrections Regarding Programs for HIV-Positive Prisoners (09/28/2007)

Letter to Alabama Department of Corrections from ACLU and State Legislators Regarding HIV-Positive Prisoners (09/28/2007)

Letter to Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard F. Allen Regarding Rights of HIV-Positive Prisoners (09/28/2007)

Prisoner Rights : Restriction of Rights : Fact Sheets

Know Your Rights: The Prison Litigation Reform Act (06/07/2006)

Know Your Rights: Privileged and Non-Privileged Mail (06/02/2006)

Prisoner Rights : Restriction of Rights : Supreme Court Cases

Booth v. Churner (12/01/2000)
DECIDED

Prisoner Rights : Restriction of Rights : Court Cases

Addressing the Unintended Consequences of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) (11/15/2007)
ACLU Efforts to Fix the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA)

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