Latest From ACLU of Washington

The latest content and updates from the ACLU of Washington website.

“Tough on Crime” Is Tough on Budgets: Ten Ideas to Improve Our Justice System

Published: 
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Isn’t it time to stop this approach to criminal justice? Don’t we have better things to spend the money on? Inspired by David Letterman, here is our list of 10 Ideas for saving money by putting fewer people in prisons and jails, and being “smart” on criminal justice instead of simply being punitive.
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End the Federal Ban on Syringe Exchange Funding

Published: 
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Syringe exchange programs save lives, save taxpayer money, and do no harm to society. The federal government finally lifted its decades long funding ban in 2009. Unfortunately, the ban was reinstated in December 2011 for purely political reasons. Advocates are now working to remove the funding ban once again.
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Court Approves Fair and Accurate Language for Ballot Title on Marriage Equality Law Referendum

News Release, Published: 
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
A Thurston County Superior Court judge today approved ballot title language for Referendum 74, a measure that asks voters to approve or reject the law permitting civil marriage for same-sex couples passed by the 2012 Legislature.
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Humiliated, But Not Beaten: Fighting Back for Pregnant and Parenting Teens in Washington

Published: 
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
When eighth-grader Shantelle Hicks learned she was pregnant, she was determined to stick with her education. But the administrators at her New Mexico middle school said she was a “bad example” and told her she couldn’t remain in school.
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ACLU Publishes First-Ever Guide to Rights in the Digital Age for Students in Washington

News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Text messaging, chats, Facebook, blogs, YouTube, and a host of other new avenues raise both new and old questions about legal rights. Now the ACLU-WA has published the first-ever guidebook laying out the rights of Washington public school students in using electronic communications devices.
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Combating Housing Discrimination: Moving Beyond Narrow Definitions of Families

Published: 
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Two years ago, Michelle DeShane wanted to add her partner Mitch, a transgender man, to the housing voucher she receives to find affordable housing. The local housing authority in Richland refused and told her that the couple did not meet its definition of a “family.” Then it referred the DeShanes to a neighboring housing authority, because, as they were apparently told, that housing authority “accepts everyone – even Martians.”
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Challenge Seeks Accurate Language for Ballot Title on Marriage Equality Law Referendum

Published: 
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The ACLU of Washington and Legal Voice are representing the League of Women Voters of Washington and Parents, Families, and Friends of Gays and Lesbians (PFLAG) Washington State Council in a court challenge to the state Attorney General’s proposed ballot title for Referendum 74.  The measure asks voters to approve or reject the law permitting civil marriage for same-sex couples passed by the 2012 Legislature. The League of Women Voters and PFLAG petition says that the proposed language drafted by the Attorney General for R-74 ballot title is prejudicial, and that the court should require language that accurately describes the referendum. 
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Small Crimes, Big Consequences: Why Fairness in Municipal Courts is so Important

Published: 
Friday, March 2, 2012
Aside from the jail time and fees and fines that may be imposed as part of a misdemeanor sentence, there can be life-long consequences of a misdemeanor charge. In connection with our work on criminal records issues, the ACLU has heard from numerous individuals denied housing or jobs because of a misdemeanor on their record.
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LEADing the way in dealing with substance abuse problems

Published: 
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The innovative Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (“LEAD”) pre-booking diversion pilot program has now been operating since fall of 2011. Instead of arresting low-level drug offenders and prosecuting them, law enforcement diverts them to community-based treatment and support services. The LEAD program also has a new website (www.LEADKingCounty.org).
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A Commitment to Learning: Russell Dickerson's Advice to Educators

Published: 
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
After enduring years of harassment in school, Russell Dickerson III offers his perspective on how educators can tackle harassment and bullying head-on. Represented by the ACLU-WA, Dickerson recently gained a major settlement from Aberdeen School District over its failure to take action to end the harassment.  He reconfirms that schools have a responsibility to provide a safe learning environment for all students. Dickerson gives some insight into how on the Journal of Educational Controversy Blog.
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ACLU Criticizes Police Accountability Head for Ignoring "Culture of Disrespect" Among Officers

Published: 
Friday, February 24, 2012
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Lawsuit Can Go Forward Challenging Shockingly Deficient Public Defense System

News Release, Published: 
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The U.S. District Court in Seattle has rejected a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against the cities of Mt. Vernon and Burlington over their failure to provide legal representation to poor people accused of misdemeanors. The court also granted the case class-action status.
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