Press Releases
about Criminal Law Reform
Apr 13, 2026
New Report Finds Current Traffic Enforcement System Fails on Safety and Equity, Calls for Smarter Road Safety Strategies
NEW YORK – A new report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Policing Project at New York University School of Law finds that the United States’ current...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Apr 09, 2026
ACLU Demands DNA Testing That Could Prove Innocence of Tony Carruthers, Man on Tennessee Death Row
The state is preparing to execute Tony Carruthers on May 21 even though serious questions remain about whether they have the right person.
Issue Areas:
Capital Punishment
Criminal Law Reform
Court case: Tony Von Carruthers v. State of Tennessee
Apr 02, 2026
ACLU Files Public Records Request to DOJ to Demand Justice and Transparency in Policing
The records requests were filed as part of the ACLU’s Seven States Safety Campaign and seek information about prematurely terminated DOJ investigations
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Feb 24, 2026
ACLU and Stand for Children Tennessee File Lawsuit Against City of Memphis for Police Transparency Violations
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Today, Stand for Children Tennessee and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the city of Memphis for unlawfully denying access to public re...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Feb 10, 2026
ACLU Files Lawsuit Against Federal, State, and Local Police for Mass Immigration Raid at Family Event in Wilder, Idaho
BOISE – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Idaho filed a putative class action lawsuit today challenging an immigration raid carried out at a popular family event...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Immigrants' Rights
Court case: Rodriguez, et al. v. Porter, et al.
Jan 22, 2026
Lawsuit Seeks District Attorney’s Records on “Goon Squad” Misconduct in Mississippi
Rankin County District Attorney Disclosed Only One Document in Response to Request for Records on So-Called “Goon Squad”
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.
-
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.