Press Releases

ACLU of Connecticut lawyers and advocates are leading experts on civil rights, civil liberties, and constitutional freedoms. They are regularly sought out by leading media to provide a voice to the most important issues facing Connecticut. If you are a member of the press and wish to speak with a representative of the ACLU of Connecticut, please contact us at media@acluct.org. If you are a member of the media and wish to receive ACLU of Connecticut press releases, please send your name, the outlet for which you work, your email address, and phone number to media@acluct.org with the subject line “Press Release Distribution.”

Reaction to Legislative Passage of Bill to Stop Job Licensure Discrimination Against People Based on Criminal Record

The Connecticut Senate today voted to approve a bill to prevent job licensure discrimination against people living with a record of arrest or conviction, H.B. 5248.

National ACLU Comment on Reporting of Leaked SCOTUS Opinion Overturning Roe

The following statement was issued by national American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony Romero in response to reporting of a leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade:

Statement Regarding Arrest of State Police Trooper Brian North for Killing Mubarak Soulemane

Inspector General Robert Devlin announced that State Police trooper Brian North was arrested for killing Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020. Devlin also released a report into North’s killing of Soulemane. The following is a reaction from ACLU-CT public policy and advocacy director Claudine Constant.
Issue Areas: Policing, Racial Justice

Governor, Attorney General Sued Over Prison Debt

Federal class-action lawsuit seeks to stop state from charging people for each day spent in prison.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal System

Chief State’s Attorney’s Resignation Shows Need for Accountability in State’s Attorney System to Prevent Future Misconduct

During a Criminal Justice Commission meeting today, Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo announced he would resign. His resignation comes on the heels of an investigation into his decision to hire a state budget official’s daughter while Colangelo was lobbying that official for raises.

New Website Centralizes Connecticut Statewide and Local Police Contracts and Police Commission Information for First Time

Project Flashlight, launched today by the ACLU of Connecticut, is an interactive website that centralizes, summarizes, and maintains information about the powers that town and statewide governments have traded away to police.

Coast Guard Academy Sued Over Unconstitutional Policy Banning Parents 

Isaak Olson, a former cadet at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, filed a federal lawsuit today over the academy’s policy of prohibiting cadets from being parents.
Issue Areas: Women's Rights

Reaction to Senate Republican Caucus Proposal to Roll Back Criminal Legal Reform and Police Accountability Laws

The Connecticut Senate Republican caucus released a proposal to roll back Connecticut laws related to criminal legal reform and police accountability. The following is a reaction from Claudine Fox, ACLU of Connecticut public policy and advocacy director.

First Inspector General Must Value Black Lives by Holding Police Accountable

"Connecticut’s first Inspector General must be dedicated to valuing Black lives and pursuing police accountability instead of the status quo."