Every American cherishes the civil liberties promised by our Constitution. However, the words alone do not make these rights a reality. We live better lives and are a better country because of the ACLU. 
Oppose DNA collection upon arrest
March 28, 2011 3:16 pm | Posted by Allie Carter
Oppose DNA Collection Upon Arrest House Bill 3238: Download Fact Sheet Track Progress Read the bill DNA is different than a simple fingerprint. DNA testing discloses private health information about... Continue reading
Death Penalty Reinstatement Bills: Status Update
March 27, 2011 8:30 pm | Posted by kbennett
On March 17th, the ACLU of Illinois submitted testimony to the House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee regarding House Bills 1519 and 1738 (Amendment 2) which would reinstate the death penalty... Continue reading
HB 1948 – Surveillance Camera Data Collection: Status Update
March 27, 2011 7:28 pm | Posted by kbennett
On March 16th, HB 1948 (Amendment 1), the Surveillance Camera Data Collection Act unanimously passed the House Judiciary I – Civil Law Committee 11-0. The bill is now on second... Continue reading
SB 1619 – Illinois Personal Responsibility Education Program: Status Update
March 27, 2011 6:32 pm | Posted by kbennett
On March 15th, SB 1619 (Senate Amendment 1), the Illinois Personal Responsibility Education Program (IL PREP), passed out of the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee with a vote of 6... Continue reading
Statement on Reinstatement of the Death Penalty in Illinois
March 21, 2011 7:24 pm | Posted by Allie Carter
In order for the State of Illinois to take a life, the State must do so fairly, rationally and without the threat of taking an innocent life. There are insufficient safeguards in our criminal justice system to insure that this is how the law is carried out in Illinois. From 1977 to 2000, Illinois executed 12 inmates but freed 13 from Death Row. The 13 freed individuals had their convictions overturned and some were completely exonerated. In the 10 years since the Moratorium, seven more inmates have been released from Death Row – only Florida has released more exonerated defendants. The irrevocability of the death penalty counsels against accepting a system with a demonstrably significant rate of error. We cannot guarantee that our death penalty will not make a fatal mistake and take an innocent life.
HB 3156 would impose “unconstitutional burdens on the fundamental right to terminate pregnancy”
March 18, 2011 2:14 pm | Posted by Allie Carter
Executive Director Colleen Connell submitted
Familial DNA Testing Raises Privacy and Civil Rights Concerns
March 17, 2011 8:01 pm | Posted by Ofelia Casillas
The ACLU of Illinois opposes familial DNA testing. Earlier this month, we presented our concerns in a speech on DNA familial testing at a symposium sponsored by the Center on... Continue reading
Women are not Livestock Rally a Success, Fight moves to House Floor
March 16, 2011 3:27 am | By Allie Carter, Senior Field Manager
A wonderful group of folks from all across Illinois came to the state capitol today to tell the House Agriculture Committee: Women are not Livestock! While the rally was a success in drawing attention to the issues, HB 3156 passed out of the committee on a 13-0 vote. The fight now moves to the House floor.
Bills We Oppose: Forced DNA Collection Upon Arrest II
March 9, 2011 4:36 pm | Posted by Allie Carter
HB 3238 would require DNA extraction from all persons arrested for: first degree murder; home invasion; predatory criminal sexual assault of a child; aggravated criminal sexual assault; and criminal sexual... Continue reading
DHS Concludes They Have Authority to Monitor Political Activities of Advocacy Groups
March 8, 2011 10:58 pm | Posted by Maura Ross
From ACLU’s Blog of Rights: In March 2006, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Protective Service (FPS) issued a “Protective Intelligence Bulletin” from the “Intelligence Branch” of its “Threat... Continue reading