Police Practices

Every Californian who has an encounter with the police deserves to be treated with dignity and fairness. But too often police officers violate individuals’ constitutional rights. The ACLU of Northern California works to hold law enforcement accountable. We advocate for victims of police misconduct and support reforms that make our communities safer, while also reducing the role of police.

Outline of the state of California overlaid with pictures of a protestor holding a sign that says "I can't breathe" and the lower bodies of police in protest gear

Know Your Rights: Police Interactions

Encounters with the law can be stressful and scary.

Our Know Your Rights guide provides you with practical information that could help you avoid potentially harmful situations.

Read Our Guide
police car with lights on

Civilian Sheriff Oversight in California

Sheriffs hold massive power in California counties over jails, law enforcement, emergency services, court-ordered evictions, and more.

They are elected officials who must be accountable to the public that they serve — and California law gives counties the authority to establish civilian oversight boards. Find out if your county has or is working toward civilian oversight, and how you can get involved.

Learn more
Sheriff seen from behind

Gold Chains: The Hidden History of Slavery in California

Gold Chains highlights California’s slavery past which is not taught in schools.

Through narratives, public records, archival material, and images, this project exposes California’s hidden history and the ways in which its legacy persists in the state’s courts, culture, and conscience.

Explore Gold Chains
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The Latest

News & Commentary
person on cell phone, eyeball, and surveillance camera

Mass Surveillance in the Trump Era

The Trump administration is weaponizing technology to build a mass-surveillance state.
News & Commentary
the feet of walking military troops

Be prepared. Know your rights.

On Thursday, the Trump administration sent federal immigration agents to the Bay Area. They fired flash bangs at peaceful protesters.
Know Your Rights
Iphone taking photo

Know Your Rights: Taking Video or Photos of Law Enforcement

Taking photographs of things that are plainly visible from public spaces is a constitutional right – and that includes federal buildings, transportation facilities, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties. Unfortunately, there is a widespread, continuing pattern of law enforcement officers ordering people to stop taking photographs from public places, and harassing, detaining, and arresting those who fail to comply.
Know Your Rights
ICE at Door

Know Your Rights: If ICE Confronts You

Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Learn more here about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them.
Court Case
Apr 23, 2024

ACLU SoCal v. City of Fresno

Action against the City of Fresno for its failure to provide records about police canine use of force, as required by the state’s Public Records Act.
Court Case
Nov 22, 2022

American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California v. Vallejo Police Department (Police misconduct)

The ACLU of Northern California has filed a lawsuit to compel the city of Vallejo to release public records that contain information about officers in the Vallejo Police Department who allegedly bent their badges after on-duty shootings as a badge of honor.
Court Case
Oct 26, 2022

Yesue et al v. The City of Sebastopol

The ACLU Foundation of Northern California, Disability Rights Advocates, Legal Aid of Sonoma County, and California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Sebastopol for enacting an ordinance that prohibits vehicles “designed or altered for human habitation” from parking anywhere within city limits during the day.
Court Case
Sep 30, 2022

Simon et al v. The City and County of San Francisco, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto

The ACLU Foundation of Northern California and the law firm Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati filed a class-action lawsuit to prevent the San Francisco Sheriff's Office from requiring that individuals agree to unconstitutional “four-way” searches and GPS location data-sharing as conditions of pretrial release on electronic monitoring.