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State Denies ACLU-NJ Request for Information on Religious School Funding

NEWARK – The state of New Jersey has denied a request by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey to release the applications of all higher education institutions that applied for public funding for construction projects, stating that if the information were made public, it would “give an advantage to competitors or bidders.” The ACLU-NJ filed the requests to learn more about the nature of the schools receiving funding, and in particular to determine whether Gov. Chris Christie’s administration violated the divide between church and state. More »

ACLU-NJ Statements on NYPD Surveillance, Tuition and Drone Bills

NEWARK – The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey is monitoring several pieces of legislation that are before the New Jersey Legislature. Senate Bill No. 2311 will ensure that the NYPD and other law enforcement agencies will be unable to conduct their operations in New Jersey without informing New Jersey law enforcement officials of their activities. Bill No. 2702 will ensure that law enforcement agencies in New Jersey use drones only for legitimate law enforcement purposes. The Tuition Equality Act will allow undocumented immigrants, who have attended high school in New Jersey for at least three years, and who have graduated or received an equivalent degree, to qualify for in-state rates at the state's public colleges and universities. More »

ACLU Report Reveals that Black New Jerseyans are more Likely to be Arrested for Marijuana Possession Despite Equal Usage Rates

Newark, NJ – According to a new report by the American Civil Liberties Union, Blacks in New Jersey were arrested for marijuana possession at 2.84 times the rate of whites in 2010, despite comparable marijuana usage rates. The report, Marijuana in Black and White: Billions of Dollars Wasted on Racially Biased Arrests, released today, is the first ever to examine state and county marijuana arrest rates nationwide by race. The findings show that while there were pronounced racial disparities in marijuana arrests 10 years ago, they have grown significantly worse. More »

Join the Movement: Support Marriage Equality!

Jan. 14, 2014 is the last day of New Jersey’s 215th legislative session, and the last day to overturn Gov. Christie’s veto of marriage equality. Let’s make sure that we’re celebrating the fairness we’ve achieved together, not regretting another missed shot at equality. We need to pull every New Jersey legislator who was on the fence in 2012 onto the right side of history in 2013. More »

ACLU-NJ Files Lawsuit Challenging Wanaque Borough’s Juvenile Curfew Ordinance

Shaina Harris

NEWARK – The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey has filed suit against the Borough of Wanaque after its police department issued a citation to a teenager for violating its juvenile curfew ordinance. Shaina Harris, 17, was given the citation after she walked to a Burger King located across the street from her home around 11 p.m. on Sept. 22, 2012. Harris had parental permission to visit the restaurant to buy a milkshake. More »