We believe that police violence cannot be effectively addressed without completely reimagining the role of police. Connecticut, like the rest of the country, must reduce the role, responsibilities, and presence of police, especially in Black and Latinx communities. This means, at minimum, diverting funds from policing to instead build safe and healthy communities. Through litigation, legislative advocacy, and education, the ACLU of Connecticut seeks changes to counterproductive policies that have disproportionately harmed communities of color in our state, and to educate people about their rights when interacting with police. We have fought against the increasing militarization of local police departments, sought an end to civil asset forfeiture, called for warrant requirements before police use drones to spy, warned against the weaponization of police drones, and condemned racial disparities in traffic stops. We sued after police unjustly stopped and searched a pregnant woman, a music minister, and a protester. We helped to pass landmark laws to require police transparency about Taser use and to require police to obtain warrants before using "stingrays" to spy on people's private cellphone communications.
Policing
- 118 people have died after being tased by police in Connecticut since 2005. 12 were Black or Latino.
- 2In 2015, statewide, police disproportionately searched Black and Latino drivers, but were less likely to find illegal substances than in white drivers' cars.
Friend v Gasparino, City of Stamford
October 22, 2018Dowdell v New Britain & Dowdell v Connecticut State Police
October 3, 2018Picard v. Torneo, Jacobi, Barone
September 15, 2016
Vereen v. Ruffin and Vasquez
April 26, 2016Cash v. Town of East Haven et al
January 16, 2015
SB 953, An Act Concerning the Definition of Racial Profiling
March 14, 2023SB 1195, An Act Establishing Secondary Traffic Violations
March 14, 2023HB 6878, AAC Appeals Regarding Governmental Immunity of Police Officers, Use of Force By a Police Officer, Searches of Motor Vehicles, Pursuit of a Suspect Policies and Verification of Residence Addresses of Persons on the Sex Offense Registry
March 14, 2023
HB 6834, An Act Concerning Serious Firearms Offenses by Repeat Offenders
March 14, 2023SB 1071, An Act Concerning Deceptive or Coercive Interrogation Tactics
March 13, 2023SB 924, An Act Providing Immunity from Civil Liability to a Physician Who Accompanies and Assists a State, Regional, or Municipal SWAT Team
March 13, 2023
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