News

SACRAMENTO — Today, the California Assembly approved legislation that will help prevent wrongful convictions. Senate Bill 923, introduced by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), will ensure that law enforcement agencies throughout the state adhere to evidence-based standards that protect against mistaken eyewitness identifications. Kathy Sher, Legislative Advocate for the ACLU of California,... Read More

SACRAMENTO – Today, the California Assembly voted to approve Senate Bill 1421. Introduced by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the historic legislation will make public information about officers who shoot, kill, or engage in serious misconduct like falsifying evidence or committing sexual assault while on the job. “Today’s vote marks a tremendous victory in the fight for police accountabilit... Read More

SACRAMENTO – Last night, a bill that would have changed the standard for when California police can use deadly force was held in the Legislature. Assembly Bill 931, introduced by Assemblymembers Weber (D-San Diego) and McCarty (D-Sacramento), would have established that police officers cannot use deadly force when they have other reasonable alternatives. In response, Alliance for Boys and Men o... Read More

SACRAMENTO – Today, the California Senate voted to approve Assembly Bill 3131, a bill to increase transparency and accountability in law enforcement’s acquisition of military equipment. The bill was introduced by Assemblymembers Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) and David Chiu (D-San Francisco). Eva Brittan, Staff Attorney for the ACLU of Southern California, had this to say in response: Read More

SACRAMENTO – Today the ACLU Foundation of Northern California and Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) on behalf of the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness (SRCEH), in a letter sent in partnership with the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, called on the County of Sacramento to repeal its unconstitutional ban on panhandling. The letter was part of an effort by ... Read More

SACRAMENTO – Today, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed into law Senate Bill 10, the California Bail Reform Act.  The following statement can be jointly attributed to the three Executive Directors of the California ACLU affiliates: Abdi Soltani (Northern California), Hector Villagra (Southern California), and Norma Chávez Peterson (San Diego & Imperial Counties): We are disappoint... Read More

SACRAMENTO – Today, the Executive Directors of the ACLU California affiliates announced a change to the ACLU’s position on Senate Bill 10, the California Bail Reform Act.  The following statement can be jointly attributed to the three Executive Directors of the California ACLU affiliates: Abdi Soltani (Northern California), Hector Villagra (Southern California), and Norma Chávez Peterson (San D... Read More

BREAKING – Today, the Federal Court allowed the ACLU’s First Amendment challenge to California's execution viewing procedure to move forward, rejecting the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s attempt to deprive journalists of the right to view and fully report on an execution. Linda Lye, Senior Staff Attorney, issued the following statement in reaction to the Court’s rulin... Read More

SACRAMENTO – Today, the Assembly Committee on Appropriations advanced legislation to open law enforcement misconduct and use of force records in California. SB 1421, introduced by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), will make public information about confirmed cases of misconduct – including sexual assault and job-related dishonesty – and serious uses of force by peace officers in California. L... Read More

SACRAMENTO – Today, legislation to update California’s lethal use of force law was removed from the Senate Appropriations Committee and referred to the Senate Rules Committee before heading to the Senate for a floor vote. AB 931, introduced by Assemblymembers Weber (D-San Diego) and McCarty (D-Sacramento), is heralded as landmark legislation to save lives. In response to the bill’s advancement,... Read More

SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) unveiled amendments to bail reform legislation, Senate Bill 10, he introduced in 2016. Natasha Minsker, Center Director for the ACLU of California Center for Advocacy and Policy, issued the following statement in response to the changes in the bill: For years, California’s money bail system has been among the most egregious examples of a two... Read More

FRESNO — On August 7, at the second TRUTH forum held in the state of California, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors violated the principles of the TRUTH Act. Maria Romani, ACLU Foundations of California Immigrants’ Rights Policy Attorney, issued the following comment in response: Community members have a right to know how their local law enforcement agencies are entangled in ICE’s deportati... Read More