American Civil Liberties Union

Prisoners' Rights:
The ACLU's National Prison Project is the only national litigation program on behalf of prisoners. Since 1972, the NPP has represented more than 100,000 men, women and children. The NPP continues to fight unconstitutional conditions and the "lock 'em up" mentality that prevails in the legislatures. Learn more about our project and take action to protect the rights guaranteed to all Americans.



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Prisoner Rights : Press Releases

Court Approves Settlement of ACLU Lawsuit to Improve Conditions at County Jail in Washington State (01/28/2004)
TACOMA, WA -- Judge Ronald Leighton of U.S. District Court has approved a settlement agreement between the American Civil Liberties Union and Jefferson County officials to improve conditions for inmates at the Jefferson County Jail in Port Hadlock on the Olympic Peninsula, the ACLU announced today.

ACLU Applauds Alabama's Move to Open Rehabilitative Programming to HIV+ Prisoners (01/19/2004)
MONTGOMERY, AL- The American Civil Liberties Union commends the reversal of a nearly 20-year-old segregation policy within the Alabama Department of Corrections that led to today's integration of HIV+ prisoners into educational and vocational training programs.

ACLU Blasts Ohio Correction Center for Refusing to Administer HIV Medication to Inmate (01/16/2004)
COLUMBUS, OH - The Franklin County Correction Center is refusing to administer time-sensitive HIV medication to an inmate serving time in the facility, ignoring a letter sent by the American Civil Liberties Union informing administrators at the facility of the inmate's condition and need for the medication, the ACLU said today.

Court Asked to Revive Lawsuit Against Baltimore Jail to Protect Detainees from Deplorable Conditions (12/18/2003)
BALTIMORE - Citing deplorable living conditions at the Baltimore City Detention Center that violate a federal consent decree, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Justice Center today filed a motion to enforce crucial provisions of the decade old order.

ACLU Joins Lawsuit Over Conditions at Jail Run by Infamous Arizona Sheriff (12/04/2003)
PHOENIX -- The American Civil Liberties Union today joined an important litigation effort to defeat Sheriff Joe Arpaio's bid to terminate existing federal protections for pre-trial detainees housed in the Maricopa County Jail -- known internationally for the degrading chain gangs and other harsh policies introduced by its infamous sheriff.

ACLU Tells Appeals Court That Inhumane Conditions on Mississippi's Death Row Must End (11/05/2003)
NEW ORLEANS - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged a federal appeals court to end the deplorable conditions on Mississippi's death row and reinstate remedies ordered by a federal district court judge that protect prisoners from serious physical and mental illness.

ACLU Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Louisiana Inmate Punished for Mother's Internet Ad Seeking Legal Help for Her Son (09/18/2003)
BATON ROUGE, LA- In a federal lawsuit filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana charged officials at the state penitentiary at Angola with violating an inmate's rights when they punished him because his mother posted an online advertisement seeking legal assistance for her son.

ACLU Returns to Court on Behalf of Women at Medical Risk in Sweltering Baltimore City Jail (08/06/2003)
BALTIMORE -- Attorneys representing hundreds of women confined in the Women's Detention Center (WDC) here will appear before U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz today to force state officials to abide by an order issued last summer to protect women at medical risk because of excessive heat in the jail's dormitories, the American Civil Liberties Union announced today.

Correctional Officers and Rights Advocates Agree; Employment for Prisoners Protects Public Safety (07/25/2003)
WASHINGTON, DC- A diverse coalition of correctional officers and prisoners' rights advocates today urged Congress to oppose legislation that would damage federal prison inmate labor programs. The bill, HR 1829, scheduled for mark up in the House Judiciary Committee today, would threaten public safety and impede federal prisoners' rehabilitation.

West Virginia High Court Rules for Fundamental Fairness in Implementing State Prisons' 'Good Behavior' Policy (06/19/2003)
CHARLESTON, WV--In a victory for the due process rights of prison inmates, the state Supreme Court today ruled that prison officials here could not deny an inmate the possibility of earning "good time" credit that could reduce their sentences, the American Civil Liberties of West Virginia announced.

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