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Criminal Justice

The Bill of Rights protects us against suspicionless searches and seizures. It guarantees due process to individuals who are accused of crimes and humane treatment to those who are incarcerated. The ACLU works to ensure that our criminal justice system indeed is just.
Stop the school to prison pipeline
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Washington Needs Bail Reform: Download No Money, No Freedom
Driven to Fail: Exposing the costs & ineffectiveness of Washington's most commonly charged crime
The death penalty is arbitrary, unfair, and racially biased. The ACLU of Washington argued before the Washington Supreme Court to end it.

Resources

Labor, Tribal, and Medical Groups join ACLU-WA and Criminal Justice Organizations in Support of Retroactive Sentencing Reform

News Release, Published: 
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Over 30 labor, tribal, medical groups, and criminal justice organizations joined the ACLU-WA and FAMM in support of a bill that retroactively and prospectively repeals the use of prior juvenile convictions to automatically enhance future sentences in adult courts.
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Victims of police violence deserve a fair chance at justice. This bill will provide that.

Published: 
Friday, March 3, 2023
Lawmakers should pass the Access to Fairness Act and show that no person is above the law — especially not those who are empowered to enforce it.
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The difference between the decriminalization and legalization of substances 

Published: 
Friday, February 3, 2023
Maintaining or increasing penalties for drug possession and relying on jails and prosecution as a pathway to treatment would be repeating the mistakes of the past and continuing the failed legacy and racially inequitable outcomes of the War on Drugs. 
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ACLU of Washington statement supporting SURSAC’s recommendations on drug decriminalization, safe supply and expanding access to recovery services

News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
The Substance Use Recovery Services Advisory Committee (SURSAC) released its plan to the legislature that includes a number of public-health centered recommendations, including decriminalization of drug possession and the creation of a safe supply work group.
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