Every year in California, thousands and thousands of people are jailed while they await their trial simply because they can’t afford to post bail. In a state where the median bail amount is $50,000, it’s no surprise that many people simply can’t afford to buy their freedom in this broken system. AB... Read more »
Economic Justice
The ACLU works to defend economically disadvantaged people and fights income-based discrimination in the criminal justice and public benefits systems, and in housing and employment. Economic justice is a civil right.
Legislation
News
May 31, 2017
File Under :
The California Senate approved SB 10, a bill to reform and modernize California’s money bail system, on a bipartisan 25-11 vote. An identical bail reform bill, AB 42, is expected to be voted on by the Assembly later this week. Read more
Blog
May 22, 2017
File Under :
Jails have become America's top place to warehouse people living with mental health challenges. Far too many of those incarcerated are locked up for low-level offenses related to their health condition. Read more »
News
May 11, 2017
File Under :
Today, Color Of Change and the American Civil Liberties Union ’s Campaign for Smart Justice released a scathing national report exposing insurance corporations’ hand in creating an unnecessary and largely unaccountable $2 billion bail industry. Read more
Blog
May 11, 2017
File Under :
Every year, money bail boosts bail insurance corporations’ profits at the expense of millions of low-income people of color. Read more »
Blog
May 9, 2017
File Under :
“On behalf of myself and my 17-year-old daughter that I’m raising and my mother, who recently passed away – we’ve been drinking contaminated water for some time now. I live on a fixed budget. I don’t make more than $600 a month, and I pay out about... Read more »
Blog
April 10, 2017
File Under :
No one should have to turn on their tap and wonder if the water is safe to drink. But t housands of homes across the state are connected to water sources contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical called 1,2,3-TCP. Read more »
News
April 3, 2017
File Under :
The ACLU of California held its annual rally and lobby day to promote civil liberties legislation. Several policymakers, advocates, affected community members, and 400 ACLU members and supporters from throughout the state joined the organization. Read more
News
March 27, 2017
File Under :
A broad coalition applauded lawmakers' unveiling of two bills that, if passed, would reform California's money bail system. Thousands of Californians are detained pretrial simply because they can't afford to post bail. Read more
News
March 27, 2017
File Under :
ACLU of California Center for Advocacy and Policy statement i n response to CA Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye's State of the Judiciary Address. Read more