Home : Prisoners' Rights

Class-Action Lawsuit Challenges Failure of Illinois Officials to Provide Adequate Mental Health Treatment (02/27/2002)
CHICAGO--Claiming that the treatment needs of the emotionally disturbed are not being met, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois today filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of four individuals currently being held in Joliet Correctional Center under the state's Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act. 

Federal Judge Says Ohio "Supermax" Prison Violates Constitutional Rights (02/26/2002)
CLEVELAND-- A federal district judge ruled today that brutal conditions at an Ohio Supermax prison "impose an atypical and significant hardship" on prisoners and that their placement in the facility has "great potential for error" in violation of their rights. 

ACLU of Washington Sues to Remedy Inhumane Conditions at County Jail (02/26/2002)
TACOMA, WA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today filed a class-action lawsuit asking a federal court to order an immediate remedy to inhumane conditions at a local county jail, including lack of heat in winter, denial of medications as punishment, overflowing toilets and lack of basic hygiene products such as toilet paper.

Ohio "Supermax" Prison Case Goes to Trial Monday; Focus Will Be on Brutal Conditions at Penitentiary (01/04/2002)
CLEVELAND--A week-long trial begins Monday in a class-action lawsuit brought by more than 300 inmates over brutal conditions at the "Supermax" prison in Youngstown. 

Broad Coalition Calls on Attorney General to Rescind "Unprecedented Frontal Assault" on Attorney-Client Confidentiality (12/20/2001)
WASHINGTON--In comments filed today with the U.S. Department of Justice, the American Civil Liberties Union and a broad coalition of 18 civil rights, privacy, law enforcement and religious groups called on Attorney General John Ashcroft to rescind his order authorizing law enforcement to listen in on the confidential attorney-client communications of persons in federal custody. 

People Cleared of Wrongdoing Were Held in Jail, Treated Like Criminals, ACLU of Hawai'i Charges (12/11/2001)
HONOLULU-- Prolonged detention of individuals cleared by a jury of wrongdoing is a travesty of justice, according to legal papers filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai`i in a class action lawsuit. 

Mentally Ill Inmates in Arkansas Gain Ground in Lawsuit Over Poor Treatment and Conditions (11/08/2001)
LITTLE ROCK, AR--Citing the vulnerability of the mentally ill in jail, a federal district judge today agreed that an American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas lawsuit against state health officials charged with failing to provide treatment should be certified as a class action. 

Bowing to ACLU Lawsuit, CT Officials Will Move Prisoners Out of Notorious Virginia "Supermax" (07/24/2001)
HARTFORD, CT--In a victory for prisoners' rights, state officials said today they will move inmates under their care out of a notorious "Supermax" prison in rural Virginia where two Connecticut prisoners have died in the last 18 months. 

New ACLU Lawsuit Details Horrors at Wisconsin "Supermax" Prison (06/29/2001)
MILWAUKEE--Wisconsin's super maximum prison in Boscobel is even more inhumane than originally claimed, according to an amended class action lawsuit filed today in Madison by the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin and a group of concerned attorneys. 

Mississippi Prisons End Segregation Based on HIV; ACLU Hails 'Breakthrough,' Vows to Continue Fighting (04/30/2001)
JACKSON, MS - In a critical breakthrough for equal treatment of prisoners with HIV, Mississippi's top prison official today announced that educational and vocational programs will soon be available to all eligible prisoners, regardless of HIV status. 

Male Correction Officers Should be Restricted From Some Areas of Women's Prisons, ACLU Says (03/06/2001)
DETROIT - The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed a friend-of-the-court brief today arguing that an important legal settlement designed to protect women prisoners from sexual abuse and assault by male corrections officers should be upheld.