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. 
Tightening Belts Means Loosening Restraints: Illinois to Close Supermax Prison
One of the more positive things to result from deteriorating state budgets across the nation is that some state lawmakers are looking to smart criminal justice reform as a way... Continue reading
Unshackling Pregnant Prisoners
Melissa was pregnant at the time of her arrest in 2006; she gave birth in shackles. Melissa was in shackles two days prior to giving birth to her son. As... Continue reading
VETO SESSION – Week 2
January 19th Update: Governor Quinn signed HB 1958 into law! November 29th Update: Senate Passes HB 1958 by a vote of 44 – 10. Click here to find out how... Continue reading
From Pranks to Prison
Cross-posted from Blog of Rights. It’s safe to say that Tyell Morton, a high school senior at Rushville High in Indiana, is probably not laughing anymore. A few months ago... Continue reading
Familial DNA Testing Raises Privacy and Civil Rights Concerns
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
ACLU’s Ben Wolf to be honored as “citizen of the year”
Ben Wolf, Associate Legal Director and Director of the Institutionalized Persons Project and Children’s Initiative will named “Public Citizen of the Year” by the National Association of Social Worker’s Chicago... Continue reading
ACLU of Illinois tells appellate court that juvenile detention center still needs change
This morning, the ACLU of Illinois participated in an argument before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in our case seeking to improve... Continue reading
Juvenile Detention Center case goes to appellate court
For more than a decade, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois has worked tirelessly to improve conditions for the young people held at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC), one of the largest juvenile detention centers in the country. The JTDC long has been recognized as a dangerous, violent, filthy and overcrowded place. Court-appointed experts and monitors in this case found numerous examples of staff acting out violently against the youth detained at the facility; other experts found the facility to be unsanitary -- with rodents and pests present throughout the JTDC; and, the children were simply not cared for -- including having to wear dirty clothes and underwear for days on end.
Making the Moratorium Permanent this November
The Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (ICADP) will file legislation during the veto session that abolishes the death penalty and transfers unobligated and unexpended money remaining in the... Continue reading
What to do when stopped by the police
Adam Schwartz, senior staff counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, spoke Wednesday on Vocalo about what to do when stopped by police while still asserting your rights.... Continue reading
