News & Commentary

Mar 02, 2022

A Student’s Journey: Fighting for Education Rights while in Prison

Young people with disabilities have a legal right to a free and appropriate public education, even when they are incarcerated. But for years, the educational needs of high school students in New Jersey’s state prisons were not being met. That’s changing now, and Brian Y. is a big reason why.

A collage of a man with his back to the viewer, surrounded by images of textbooks, pens, tests, and a scraps of paper that contains quotes.
Dec 10, 2018

Mark Hopkins: Searching for Human Connection in Solitary

Mark Hopkins survived more than 180 days of solitary confinement in New Jersey prisons. His story helped lead New Jersey to strictly limit its use of the practice.

Mark Hopkins, a survivor of solitary confinement, stands next to the words "Torture is a Moral Issue."
Jun 02, 2017

We Need School in Prison, and States Must Take the Lead

By Rebecca Livengood, Skadden Fellow, ACLU-NJ

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