News & Commentary

The ACLU Foundation of Northern California and Public Justice intervened to unseal records records related to decades of sexual abuse at a federal prison in Dublin. If the Bureau of Prisons is to be held accountable, there must be full and complete transparency as the cases against it proceed.

Fresno County’s general plan violates California state law and ignores the needs of Fresno’s most vulnerable community members. Fresno should adopt a plan that includes the voices of all of its residents.

West Park is a tightly-knit community, with around 130 homes, in the Central Valley. Unfortunately, the community lacks sidewalks, a sewer system, gutters, street lights, and more.

In 2015, the CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehab. published proposed regulations for a new execution protocol. This triggered an important public comment period in accordance with CA law. The ACLU had previously submitted a Public Records Act request, in order to shed light on the proposed regulations and enhance the public's ability to comment meaningfully on them. After withholding records for months, the department was ordered to turn over more than 800 documents to the ACLU.

On August 29, 2006, the California Supreme Court in Copley Press v. Superior Court held that records of an administrative appeal of sustained misconduct charges are confidential and may not be disclosed to the public. The decision prevents the public from learning the extent to which police officers have been disciplined as a result of misconduct.Before Copley Press, Penal Code 832.7 prevented public acces