News & Commentary
Legislating for Police Reform and Black Lives in California
Since Michael Brown’s death, unarmed black men have been killed by law enforcement at alarmingly disproportionate rates. Specifically, reports indicate that black men account for 40% of 60 unarmed deaths at the hands of police this year, and are seven times more likely than white men to be shot to death by police while unarmed. At the state level, California holds the ominous record for the highest number of civilian deaths at the hands of law enforcement this year, currently totaling 129.
By Chauncee Smith
California Voters Want More Police Transparency
Much of the recent outcry over policing reflects the concern that when cops violate the law, or shoot someone, the public doesn’t get the full story.
By Peter Bibring
Voters Agree: It’s Time to End “Theft by Cop”
Imagine you’re on your way to buy a used car and a police officer pulls you over. After asking you a few questions, the officer asks to search your car. Knowing you’ve done nothing wrong, you agree. The next thing you know, the officer is telling you that he’s suspicious that you have $2,500 in cash – and he takes it. You explain that you’re on your way to buy a car. He doesn’t believe you and tells you that if you want your cash back, you’ll have to fight for it in court.
By Margaret Dooley-Sammuli
ACLU Suit Shows the DOJ Gathered Location Data Without Probable Cause
After three years of litigation, we’ve finally settled a portion of one of our long-running Freedom of Information Act suits against the federal government for information about its location tracking practices. A person’s digital location information reveals detailed, private information that the government should only be able to get through a warrant based on probable cause. As part of this settlement, the government provided us with information about the types of court orders it obtains to get location information.
By Linda Lye
Catholic Hospital Caves Under Threat of Lawsuit and Approves Woman’s Procedure
A Catholic-affiliated hospital will now perform a common reproductive healthcare procedure after the ACLU threatened to sue.
By Elizabeth Gill
San Jose's New Surveillance Proposal is Garbage
What if once a week the police drove by your home and took a picture?
By Tessa D'arcangelew
Connecticut Supreme Court Declares Death Penalty Is Unconstitutional
Today a Connecticut Supreme Court ruling saved 11 men from the death penalty. They were sentenced to death for crimes committed before Connecticut's death penalty repeal and must instead serve life imprisonment without release.
By Brian Stull
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