Latest From ACLU of Washington

The latest content and updates from the ACLU of Washington website.

Police Oversight in Spokane, Washington

Published: 
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
This post describes the various models of civilian oversight and the duties of the OPO and OPOC in Spokane. It also explores the barriers these agencies face in carrying out their role as well as the progress they’ve made, and articulates the hopeful path that lies ahead.
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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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U.S. Border Patrol Agrees to Two $35,000 Settlements in Racial Profiling, Unlawful Detention Cases

News Release, Published: 
Thursday, April 29, 2021
Agents wrongfully and unlawfully profiled, detained and interrogated two men in separate instances at the Spokane Intermodal Center bus station
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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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ACLU of Washington statement on data privacy bills before the Washington State Legislature during the 2021 session

News Release, Published: 
Monday, April 26, 2021
For the third year in a row, the ACLU of Washington and the Tech Equity coalition successfully fought the adoption of weak privacy regulations in the Washington State Legislature, alongside privacy, consumer rights, racial justice, and civil rights advocates.
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Police Accountability and Inquests in King County: Representing families calling for a fair and transparent process

Published: 
Thursday, April 22, 2021
To date, this blog series has focused largely on upstream efforts to transform policing, reduce or prevent its harms, and create public safety for all. This blog post examines endeavors to make more robust the inquest process, a tool for holding police accountable and obtaining justice for bereaved families after police harm has already been done.
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