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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

Voting Rights Restoration in Washington State

Document, Published: 
Saturday, January 1, 2022
Under Washington law, individuals convicted of felonies that have their right to vote automatically restored as soon as they have completed incarceration and any community custody required by the Department of Corrections. This brochure briefly explains the law and answers frequently asked questions.  
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Can I Vote? Flowchart

Document, Published: 
Saturday, January 1, 2022
Can I vote in Washington with a criminal record? Use this chart to find out if you can register.
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Judge Orders Halt to Driver’s License Suspensions for Unpaid Tickets

News Release, Published: 
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
People will no longer be penalized for driving while poor as a result of a judge’s order signed today requiring the Department of Licensing (DOL) to stop suspending licenses for unpaid traffic tickets for non-criminal moving violations.
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ACLU-WA: New Driver’s License Suspension Law Continues to Punish People Who Can’t Afford to Pay Traffic Tickets

News Release, Published: 
Monday, May 10, 2021
Gov. Jay Inslee signed ESSB 5226, a bill that falls short of the meaningful reform necessary to end debt-based license suspensions.
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Victory: Thurston County Superior Court Rules Washington Driver’s License Suspension Law Unconstitutional for Individuals Who Cannot Afford to Pay Fines for Moving Violations

News Release, Published: 
Monday, May 3, 2021
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Mary Sue Wilson ruled that Washington’s law authorizing automatic and mandatory license suspensions for unpaid moving violation fines without meaningful evaluation of the driver’s ability to pay the fine violates the state constitution’s right to due process.
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Terrell Marshall Law Group, ACLU of Washington file lawsuit against Pierce County for imposing excessive fines on people who cannot afford to pay court debt

News Release, Published: 
Monday, April 26, 2021
The Terrell Marshall Law Group and ACLU of Washington filed a class-action lawsuit against Pierce County on Monday claiming the county has violated the constitutional rights of thousands of people by referring their court debt to private collection agencies for missed payments and, in the process, punishing indigent people with additional charges despite their inability to pay.
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