Prisoners' Rights:
The ACLU's National Prison Project is the only national litigation program on behalf of prisoners. Since 1972, the NPP has represented more than 100,000 men, women and children. The NPP continues to fight unconstitutional conditions and the "lock 'em up" mentality that prevails in the legislatures. Learn more about our project and take action to protect the rights guaranteed to all Americans.

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2007-2008 National Prison Project Litigation Docket

ACLU Lawsuit Charges Grossly Inadequate Medical Care At State Prison In Nevada
After months of inaction during which prisoners have been forced to endure inhumane pain and suffering as a result of untreated medical conditions, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit against top corrections and government officials in Nevada in an effort to prompt much-needed sweeping improvements in the level of care given to inmates.
> News: ACLU Lawsuit Charges Grossly Inadequate Medical Care At State Prison In Nevada (3/6/2008)
> Learn More: The ACLU's Work at the Ely State Prison

HIV-positive prisoners talk about their incarceration

Alabama Department of Corrections Continues to Deny Programs to HIV-Positive Prisoners
Despite ongoing negotiations with attorneys and staff from the ACLU's National Prison Project and the ACLU of Alabama, the Alabama Department of Corrections continues to be the only correctional system in America that denies HIV-positive inmates access to its work release program. Learn more >>
> ACLU Calls on the Alabama Department of Corrections to Expand Programs for HIV-Positive Prisoners (12/11/2007)
> Letter to ADOC Commissioner Richard F. Allen from the ACLU (9/28/2007)

Landmark Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Challenging Conditions at Hutto Detention Center
On August 27, the ACLU announced a landmark settlement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that greatly improves conditions for immigrant children and their families in the T. Don Hutto detention center in Taylor, Texas. Learn More >>
> Landmark Settlement Announced in Federal Lawsuit Challenging Conditions at Immigrant Detention Center in Texas (8/27/2007)

TOOLS
> Voting in Jail: An Advocate's Tool Kit
> Know Your Rights: Going to Prison

ACLU In Court Today Challenging Conditions At Maricopa County Jail (8/12/2008)
PHOENIX – The American Civil Liberties Union is in a federal district court beginning today seeking to rebuff an attempt by Maricopa County and its sheriff, Joe Arpaio, to terminate a federal consent decree mandating that he maintain conditions at the Maricopa County Jail that meet constitutional minimums.

Inmates With Disabilities Face Discrimination In Los Angeles County Jails (5/29/2008)
LOS ANGELES –People with disabilities face inhumane treatment and illegal discrimination in the Los Angeles County jail system because it routinely fails to accommodatetheir needs. Today, civil and disability rights attorneysare filing suit in U.S. District Court to stop the mistreatment.

ACLU Welcomes Immigration Detention Medical Treatment Legislation (5/5/2008)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union applauds Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) for introducing H.R. 5950, the Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008. This legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop procedures to ensure adequate medical care for all detainees held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The legislation also requires ICE to report detainee deaths to the DHS and Department of Justice Offices of Inspector General.

ACLU Lawsuit Against Michigan Department of Corrections Resumes Today (4/28/2008)
KALAMAZOO, MI - The American Civil Liberties Union is arguing today in a Michigan federal court that Michigan Department of Corrections officials must provide necessary mental health care services to newly-admitted and other prisoners.

Prison Litigation Reform Act Must be Fixed, Law denies justice to victims (4/22/2008)
Washington, DC – The House Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security is scheduled to examine reform of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), which was originally passed by Congress in 1996 as a way to stem the tide against what were thought to be frivolous lawsuits by prisoners. Since that time, the law has been used repeatedly to deny justice to victims of rape, assault, religious rights violations and other serious abuses.