News

Curfews Threaten Rights and Invite Discriminatory Enforcement, ACLU-NJ Says

Local governments' use of broad curfews is disturbing for a wide range of reasons.

ACLU-NJ Statement on Fort Dix Prison Suit Dismissal

We will continue to fight for people who are incarcerated throughout New Jersey.

Lifesaving Bill Would Slow Coronavirus Spread by Lowering Prison Population in NJ, Which Has Country’s Highest Death Rate from COVID-19

Public health emergency credits would spur prison releases to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Lifesaving Bill Would Slow Coronavirus Spread by Lowering Prison Population in NJ, Which Has Country’s Highest Death Rate from COVID-19

Public health emergency credit legislation, S2519, would spur necessary releases to limit the spread of the coronavirus and decrease population levels in already crowded facilities, which is badly needed in light of stalled release process

Arguments in NJ Supreme Court Wednesday Calling for Process for Release of People in Prison

Advocates will appear in the state’s highest court Wednesday seeking implementation of a process for release from prison similar to the one created in March that resulted in the prompt release of nearly 700 people from county jails.

Voting Rights Advocates Applaud NJ Hybrid Primary Election Decision

Expansion of vote-by-mail, while enabling in-person voting, recognizes that no one should choose between personal health and democracy.

Medically Vulnerable People in Federal Prison File Class Action for Release from Fort Dix

In federal prison, social distancing is impossible, Medically vulnerable people in Fort Dix, whose lives are at risk, filed suit to be released.

Oral Argument in NJ Supreme Court Will Decide Newark Civilian Review Board's Authority

Newark CCRB, held up nationally as an example of police oversight since its 2016 creation, has withstood earlier challenges.

Racial Disparities in Marijuana Arrests Across New Jersey Worsen, Report Reveals, Making Legalization More Urgent

A new ACLU report, 'A Tale of Two Countries: Racially Targeted Arrests in the Era of Marijuana Reform,' coincides with the formation of NJ CAN 2020, a diverse, inclusive campaign to legalize marijuana.

ACLU, Legal Aid Society, Bronx Defenders Win Immediate Release of Five Medically Vulnerable Immigrants in ICE Detention, Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The American Civil Liberties Union, The Legal Aid Society, and The Bronx Defenders last night won the immediate release of five immigrants in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention who are at high risk of serious illness or death if they contract COVID-19, due to their underlying health conditions. The lawsuit, Arriaga Reyes et al v. Decker et al, brought in U.S. District Court in the District of New Jersey, sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) amid mounting reports of egregious conditions at local ICE jails, including over 100 confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 amongst detainees and jail staff at the two jails where the plaintiffs are detained.