Youth and Student Rights
The constitutional rights of young people are frequently at risk. The ACLU of Connecticut has stepped in to protect free speech in schools, fight harsh disciplinary policies that feed the school-to-prison pipeline, oppose discriminatory curfews, advance juvenile justice reforms, and lobby against mandatory juvenile sentencing laws.
The Latest
Know Your Rights: College and University Student Protests
The ACLU of Connecticut wants you to know that you have free speech rights in school, and we want you to feel empowered to use them. Here are some guidelines on exercising your free speech rights as a student on either a public or private campus.
The American Civil Liberties Union Sends Open Letter to Colleges and Universities, Urging Them to Protect Campus Speech
The American Civil Liberties Union this week shared an open letter to general counsels at colleges and universities across the nation outlining their responsibilities and rights when dealing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigations and enforcement actions.
Cases, Campaigns & Legislation
Jul 17, 2023
Smart Justice 2023 Legislative Testimony
Smart Justice was at the Capitol day in and day out this year, fighting for a healthier, freer Connecticut.
Apr 05, 2023
SB 952, An Act Concerning Parole Eligibility for an Individual Serving a Lengthy Sentence for a Crime Committed Before the Individual Reached the Age of Twenty-Five
Among the more cruel and unjust aspects of the system of mass incarceration is the criminalization of children and young people.
Position:
Support
Mar 21, 2023
HB 6889, An Act Concerning Juvenile Matters
The ACLU-CT believes that children should be supported with services and resources that support them, their families, and their communities, rather than criminalized.
Position:
Oppose
Mar 21, 2023
HB 6888, An Act Concerning Juvenile Justice
Among the most vulnerable people who become enmeshed in the criminal legal system are young people under the age of eighteen, who suffer unique harms due to their involvement in the criminal legal system and are more likely to experience even wider racial disparities than exist for adults.
Position:
Support
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