As the courts have become increasingly political, we cannot always rely on them to advance or protect our civil liberties. Therefore, the role of our legislative program has become even more vital. A strong presence in Sacramento through the ACLU California Action enables us to stop or amend laws and policies hostile to civil liberties before it becomes necessary to convince a court to rule a statute unconstitutional.
The ACLU California Action lobbies the legislature, analyzes proposed legislation, drafts and presents testimony, contacts legislative offices, and stimulates grassroots contact with legislators.
At a time when abortion rights are under attack, California can and must be a leader on abortion access. Right now, most university health centers provide quality health care at low or no cost to students....
In far too many places across California, juvenile probation has become a knee-jerk reaction to young people who are simply having trouble in school or at home but who haven't been accused of a crime.
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Right now, California law charges administrative fees to people who come in contact with the criminal justice system, including fees for public defenders, booking, mandatory drug testing and costs related...
Advances in technology and drastic changes in business practices have outpaced the law. The lack of adequate privacy protections has undercut the privacy, safety, and financial security of Californians,...
Living in California is already expensive enough: for many working families, it's almost impossible to afford to live here because of astronomically high housing prices and equally expensive childcare and...