Press Releases
about Criminal Law Reform
Jul 27, 2017
Aurora Pays $110K for Unlawful Detention and Tasing of Darsean Kelley
Police Tased Kelley in the Back as he Said, “I Know My Rights”
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Jul 24, 2017
Interim Chief Arradondo Must Make Changes at the Minneapolis Police Department
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Medaria Arradondo was appointed as the new chief of police for the Minneapolis Police Department. He is replacing Chief Janée Harteau, who was forced to resign...
Issue Areas:
Racial Justice
Criminal Law Reform
Jul 19, 2017
ACLU Comment on Justice Department Expansion of Civil Asset Forfeiture
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced today the reversal of former Attorney General Eric Holder’s policy to curb law enforcement seizures of people’s property...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Jun 29, 2017
ACLU Commends Grand Rapids Police Decision to End Trespass Policy That Led to Disproportionate Arrest of African-Americans
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The ACLU is hailing a recent decision by the Grand Rapids Police Department to end a policy that permitted police officers to arrest innocent people for tre...
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Racial Justice
Court case: Hightower v. City of Grand Rapids
Jun 28, 2017
Settlement Will Stop Four Mississippi Counties from Jailing People Indefinitely Without a Lawyer or Because They Can’t Afford Bail
Reforms Will Speed up Appointment of Public Defenders, Reduce Unnecessary Jail Time
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
Court case: Burks, et al. v. Scott County, Mississippi
Jun 22, 2017
Video from Worthington Shows Officer Using Excessive Force Against Young Man
ACLU Calls for Investigation of Law Enforcement Agent Joe Joswiak
Issue Areas:
Criminal Law Reform
About the ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union has media staff available to handle inquiries from journalists on national issues affecting civil liberties, including questions on legislative matters that touch on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms and inquiries related to ACLU lawsuits.
To schedule an interview with an ACLU expert, email media@aclu.org.
Contact an ACLU Affiliate
The ACLU has 54 local offices across the U.S. working with attorneys and activists in their communities to shape better policies and spread awareness about their states' priority civil rights issues.
Local inquiries should be directed to the appropriate ACLU state affiliate.
The Latest in Criminal Law Reform
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News & CommentarySep 2026
Criminal Law Reform
Privacy & Technology
Another Problem With Ai-assisted Police Reports: Companies Can Have Incentives To Distort Their Content. Explore News & Commentary.Another Problem With AI-Assisted Police Reports: Companies Can Have Incentives to Distort Their Content
Police Companies Could Train Their AI to Hide Use of Their Products or Make Them Look Good -
News & CommentaryAug 2026
Criminal Law Reform
+2 Issues
States Are Punishing Women Who Survive Violence With Incarceration. They Deserve Clemency.. Explore News & Commentary.States are Punishing Women Who Survive Violence with Incarceration. They Deserve Clemency.
One woman violently forced into assisting a murder seeks clemency in Michigan. Author and journalist Justine van der Leun calls for states to enact laws protecting criminalized survivors. -
News & CommentaryAug 2026
Criminal Law Reform
Immigrants' Rights
We’ve Filed More Than 50 Legal Claims Over Abuse By Federal Immigration Agents. Here's Why.. Explore News & Commentary.We’ve Filed More Than 50 Legal Claims Over Abuse by Federal Immigration Agents. Here's Why.
The claimants detail being unlawfully detained, denied medical care, or targeted simply for speaking out or recording what they saw. Their experiences reveal a dangerous pattern of abuse that threatens the rights and safety of us all. -
Minnesota Supreme CourtJun 2026
Criminal Law Reform
State V. Weisen. Explore Case.State v. Weisen
This case asks whether law enforcement may permissibly use trickery and deception to obtain consent for a search and/or induce a confession. This case has important implications for Minnesotans’ constitutional rights to be free from unreasonable searches and compelled self-incrimination. The ACLU's State Supreme Court Initiative represents the ACLU of Minnesota and the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in an amicus brief to the Minnesota Supreme Court.