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Publications

As part of our work, the ACLU of Northern California issues reports, position papers and advocacy materials that study and note developments in civil liberties. Below is a listing of our publications.

Reproductive Health Behind Bars in California
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Reproductive Health Behind Bars in California

Jan 14, 2016
California jails are required by law to protect the reproductive health of the people in their care. But across the state, we’re seeing that accessing reproductive health care becomes a frightening and traumatic experience for incarcerated people. A report by the ACLU of California, “Reproductive Health Behind Bars in California,” found that jails are putting people’s health at risk by denying, de... Read More
Marijuana Policy Forum
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Pathways Report: Policy Options for Regulating Marijuana in California

Jul 21, 2015
Executive summary The question of whether or not California should legalize adult use of marijuana beyond medical purposes is gaining increased attention by voters and policymakers in California. Four states and the District of Columbia have voted to legalize recreational marijuana use, and each offers important lessons for California. But there are circumstances that are unique to our state th... Read More
Breaking Down Educational Barriers for California's Pregnant & Parenting Students
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Breaking Down Educational Barriers for California's Pregnant & Parenting Students

Feb 09, 2015
Pregnant and parenting students in California and throughout the United States have a right to the same educational opportunities as other students. They are protected from discrimination and harassment and may not be excluded from classes or extracurricular activities because they are pregnant or have children. But students’ lived experiences do not reflect these protections. In fact, pregnant an... Read More
Stingrays: The most common surveillance tool the government won't tell you about
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STINGRAYS: The Most Common Surveillance Tool the Government Won't Tell You About

Jun 24, 2014
Federal and state law enforcement entities across the country are using a powerful cell phone surveillance tool commonly referred to as a “StingRay.”  These devices are capable of locating a cell phone with extraordinary precision, but to do so they operate in dragnet fashion, scooping up information from a target device, as well as otherwireless devices in the vicinity.  In addition, th... Read More
DA Sheriff Voter Toolkit
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Voter Toolkit: DAs & Sheriffs Report to You

Mar 05, 2014
Question: Who are the most powerful elected officials most voters have never voted for? Answer: Your district attorney & sheriff. They speak for you, but what are they saying on these issues? Download this voter toolkit and vote on June 3. Read More
Metadata Piecing Together a Privacy Solution report cover
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Metadata: Piecing Together a Privacy Solution

Feb 27, 2014
Our new policy paper, Metadata: Piecing Together a Privacy Solution, examines how outdated laws and new technologies combine to put personal privacy at risk and proposes a way forward to ensure that sensitive data of any type gets the protection it deserves. Read More
Cover of ACLU NorCal report titled "From Report Card to Criminal Record"
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From Report Card to Criminal

Aug 28, 2013
In the name of public safety, Black children in Oakland are being arrested at vastly disproportionate rates. This derails their opportunities for educational success while failing to ensure our children’s safety. From Report Card to Criminal Record: The Impact of Policing Oakland Youth describes the various and overlapping law enforcement agencies which police Oakland’s children. Read More
Costs and Consequences: The High Price of Policing Immigrant Communities
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Costs and Consequences: The High Price of Policing Immigrant Communities

Jun 22, 2011
This report reviews both legal and policy considerations for police practices in immigrant communities – from traffic stops and unnecessary arrests to immigration-based detention in local jails, including vechicle checkpoints and impoundments. Details are included on the financial and human costs of these practices, including several personal stories.The report is accompanied by a summary of cost-... Read More
La ley de Seth - nuevas herramientas para prevenir hostigamiento en las escuelas de California
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AB 9: La ley de Seth - nuevas herramientas para prevenir hostigamiento en las escuelas de California

Jun 22, 2011
La "Ley de Seth" es una nueva ley que fortalece leyes estatales existentes contra el hostigamiento para ayudar a proteger a todos los estudiantes de las escuelas públicas de California. La Ley de Seth requiere que las escuelas públicas de California actualicen sus politicas y programas contra el hostigamiento, y se enfoquen en proteger a los estudiantes que son hostigados por su orientación sexual... Read More
death tax
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The Hidden Death Tax: The Secret Costs of Seeking Execution in California

Jan 01, 2009
"The Hidden Death Tax" is a comprehensive report on the costs of California’s death penalty, analyzing for the first time records of actual costs in California death penalty trials.  The report demonstrates that while California tax payers spend well over $100 million every year on the death penalty, it is unclear just how much money is being spent. At the post-conviction level, California taxp... Read More
death by geography
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Death by Geography: A County by County Analysis of the Road to Execution

Jan 01, 2009
"Death by Geography" reviews the death-sentencing practices, public safety records, and spending practices of the 24 most populous California counties. The report reveals that while the vast majority of California counties have largely abandoned execution in favor of simply sentencing people to die in prison, just 10 counties continue to aggressively pursue executions, accounting for nearly 85 pe... Read More