Press Releases
about Criminal Law Reform
Mar 27, 2018
ACLU Responds to Attorney General Landry’s Decision Not to Charge Officers Involved in Alton Sterling’s Killing
BATON ROUGE, La. — The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana released the following statement in response to Attorney General Jeff Landry’s decision not to bring criminal...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Feb 12, 2018
Police Officer Fired for not Shooting Unarmed Man Reaches Settlement with W.Va. City
WEIRTON, W.Va. — A settlement agreement was reached between former Weirton police officer Stephen Mader and the City of Weirton in a lawsuit challenging the termination of Mr. Ma...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Feb 01, 2018
Savannah Police Suspend Program Instructing Landlords to Deny Housing to People with Criminal Records
SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department suspended its Crime Free Housing Program, which for 18 years had instructed landlords to refuse to rent apartm...
Issue Areas:
Racial Justice
Criminal Law Reform
Jan 04, 2018
ACLU Statement on DOJ Decision to Shift Federal Government’s Role in State Marijuana Laws
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice is expected to reverse an Obama-era policy today that discouraged federal prosecutors from bringing charges against marijuana users in stat...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Jan 04, 2018
Civil Rights Organizations Demand Police Reform Documents From Justice Department
WASHINGTON — Three civil rights organizations filed Freedom of Information Act requests today with the Department of Justice for records relating to the enforcement of laws that ...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Dec 14, 2017
Maricopa County Prosecutor Drops Challenge to Arizona’s Medical Marijuana Act as Violation of Federal Law, Ceding Victory to ACLU
PHOENIX –Maricopa County Attorney William Montgomery has decided not to challenge the most recent ruling upholding Arizona’s Medical Marijuana Act, as the deadline of December ...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
About the ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union has media staff available to handle inquiries from journalists on national issues affecting civil liberties, including questions on legislative matters that touch on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms and inquiries related to ACLU lawsuits.
To schedule an interview with an ACLU expert, email media@aclu.org.
Contact an ACLU Affiliate
The ACLU has 54 local offices across the U.S. working with attorneys and activists in their communities to shape better policies and spread awareness about their states' priority civil rights issues.
Local inquiries should be directed to the appropriate ACLU state affiliate.
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News & CommentaryMar 2026
Criminal Law Reform
Privacy & Technology
Drones For Intimidation. Explore News & Commentary.Drones for Intimidation
Despite talk of "drones for good" from boosters, we're seeing a new, darker law enforcement “use case” for the technology -
U.S. Supreme CourtFeb 2026
Criminal Law Reform
Us V. Hemani. Explore Case.US v. Hemani
Is a federal criminal statute, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), which makes it a felony for an “unlawful user” of a controlled substance to possess a firearm, constitutional when it is used to prosecute a person who is a marijuana user and who keeps a gun safely secured at home for self-defense? -
MinnesotaDec 2025
Criminal Law Reform
Osorio-calderon V. Warden, Fci Sandstone. Explore Case.Osorio-Calderon v. Warden, FCI Sandstone
This case is about whether people unlawfully incarcerated beyond their mandatory transfer dates under the First Step Act can file habeas corpus petitions seeking their release from prison onto prerelease custody in the community. -
IdahoFeb 2026
Criminal Law Reform
Immigrants' Rights
Rodriguez, Et Al. V. Porter, Et Al.. Explore Case.Rodriguez, et al. v. Porter, et al.
On February 10, 2026, CLRP, along with the ACLU of Idaho and Wendy J. Olson, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho, and partner at Stoel Rives, filed a putative class action lawsuit challenging an immigration raid carried out at a popular family event in Wilder, Idaho in October 2025.