Criminal Justice
From policing policies to prison practices, the ACLU of Connecticut seeks to reverse the tide of mass incarceration, protect constitutional rights, eliminate racial disparities, and increase government transparency and accountability to make our justice system more fair and equal. We advocate against the government abuses that lead to mass incarceration, the failed war on drugs, and inhumane treatment of prisoners, and for policies to remedy the injustices of the past. The ACLU of Connecticut was at the forefront of the successful efforts to repeal the death penalty in Connecticut, end cash-only bail for people charged with misdemeanors, eliminate over-zealous "drug-free" zones that unneccessarily ensnared people in the criminal justice system, and prevent the government from seizing someone's assets without first convicting them of a crime. We helped to lift up the voices of formerly incarcerated people to push for the Connecticut Fair Chance Employment Act, which "banned the box" on initial job applications, and continue to advocate for the end of solitary confinement and the creation of a second chance society for young people who have made mistakes. Our legal team sought help from the United Nations to stop our state's Department of Corrections from force-feeding a prisoner and secured religious observance rights for inmates at the Danbury Federal Correctional Institution. Criminal justice reform is working in Connecticut. Through advocacy and litigation, the ACLU-CT will continue to challenge unconstitutional laws and policies and forge a new path for equality under the law.
S.B. 14, An Act Concerning Special Parole for High-Risk, Violent and Sexual Offenders
March 26, 2018S.B. 509, An Act Concerning Newly Discovered Evidence
March 26, 2018S.B. 486, An Act Concerning Notification to Boards of Education of the Release of a Juvenile Sexual Offender and a Model Policy Concerning the Reentry of Such Juveniles into the School System
March 26, 2018
The Latest
Reaction to Legislative Announcement Questioning Earned Risk...
February 5, 20182018 Legislative Preview
January 26, 2018
Hello, 2018. We’re ready for you.
January 3, 2018
2017 Year in Review
December 11, 2017
Civil Liberties Update: Fall 2017
November 22, 2017Statement from the ACLU of Connecticut on Justice, Equality, and...
August 16, 2017