News & Commentary

Mar 02, 2022

Let’s start including these workers in employment protections

When someone has earned the right to be part of society after arrest or conviction, they should have the right to support themselves and their loved ones, just like everyone else.

By Anderson Curtis

ACLUCT senior policy organizer Anderson Curtis stands with a white sign that says "I wasn't sentenced to a lifetime of discrimination." He wears a blue people not prisons shirt and sweatshirt and blue hat, glasses. He is leaning on a gray stone building
Mar 01, 2022

Stop housing discrimination against people living with a record

All people, including those who have been through the criminal legal system, should have the right to safe and stable housing.

By Will Roberts

ACLUCT smart justice leader Will stands with a cardboard sign that says, in black and white, "dismantle the mass incarceration system." Behind him is the CT Capitol. he is wearing a mask and a sweatshirt, and yellow people not prison pin
Feb 10, 2022

Smart Justice leader Curtis B. Hudson speaks out for the PROTECT Act with Stop Solitary CT

"It is a shame that we have to be here still fighting for a bill that was passed last year, but here we are and the barbaric use of solitary confinement in prison must end."

ACLUCT smart justice leader Curtis B. Hudson stands in front of the CT Capitol steps. He is wearing a black and white fedora, sunglasses, black mask, black trenchcoat, and blue Smart Justice shirt, and black gloves, and he is holding a clipboard.
Feb 05, 2022

Speaking out for Compassionate Releases with the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition

COVID-19 remains a threat to the lives and health of people who are incarcerated in Connecticut prisons and jails.

blue aclu of connecticut people not prisons poster in front of Connecticut governor's mansion
Jan 18, 2022

Project Flashlight

Shining a light on the ways police operate in the shadows.

A black background. Bottom left, a statue of justice from behind, glowing. In the center, "Project Flashlight" is written, "project" in yellow and "flashlight" in white. Bottom right, the ACLU of Connecticut logo in white.
Dec 20, 2021

Twelve goals for 2022

As we close the book on 2021, we’re ready to look ahead to 2022. Here (in no particular order) is what the ACLU of Connecticut is looking toward in court, in communities, and during the legislative session.

By David McGuire

three people stand, fists raised in protest, against a gray background. A white ACLU of Connecticut logo is in the top right corner.
Oct 14, 2021

Three things that must happen when a prison closes

Closure is just the first, minimum step. Any time Connecticut closes a prison, the state must also do these three things.

By Anderson Curtis, Claudine Constant, Gus Marks-Hamilton

A cardboard sign sits on the grass in front of the CT state capitol building. In black letters with white background, the sign says: "dismantle the mass incarceration system"
Sep 20, 2021

Connecticut’s first Inspector General must be ready to hold police accountable

Justice would be people never being hurt or killed by police in the first place, ending systemic racism, and reallocating policing budgets to instead go to things that create real public safety. But police accountability is also necessary, and the Inspector General must be prepared to seek it.

A group of protesters walks in Hartford. One holds a cardboard sign that says, in black letters, "defend Black lives"
Aug 05, 2021

We Must Value Kids Over Cars: Address Youth Crime with Better Community Services, Not with Detention

A knee-jerk reaction to leverage incarceration to solve this problem is like using a sledgehammer to crack an egg.

By Claudine Constant

Photo of people with hands raised.