California spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on felony drug possession convictions. Currently, possessing certain drugs for personal use is an automatic felony – no matter the amount or the circumstances.

LOS ANGELES – Today, Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement (CIVIC) — a national group working to end the isolation and abuse of people in immigration detention through visitation — and the ACLU of Southern California (ACLU SoCal), along with other legal service providers and advocates, sent two letters requesting that ICE reinstate community visitation programs immediately.

A key Assembly committee is considering approving a bill, SB 15, that would give law enforcement a blank check when it comes to using drones. Drones pose significant threats to privacy because they can easily be used for warrantless mass surveillance.

LOS ANGELES—A broad coalition of education and civil rights organizations sent a letter today to all California county and district superintendents and charter school administrators urging immediate action to direct additional resources to the state’s neediest children.

On Tuesday, July 16, Vanir Construction Management will present its analysis of the Los Angeles County Jail Plan and Alternatives to Incarceration to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors at their weekly meeting.

LOS ANGELES - The much anticipated review and report on the proposed Los Angeles County Jail Plan was released late Friday and raises several concerns about the direction of County policy and spending on incarceration. The report, developed by Vanir Construction Management, lists five options ranging in cost from $1.3 billion to over $1.6 billion. All of the plans center on the demolition and rebuilding of Men’s Central Jail over a 10-year period.

SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate Wednesday passed the School Success and Opportunity Act (Assembly Bill 1266), sending the bill that ensures transgender students have the opportunity to succeed in school to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature.

WASHINGTON – Below is a statement from Laura W. Murphy, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington Legislative Office, on passage of the Senate immigration reform bill.

Fines against the government for lying to a court should be upheld, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU/SC) will argue before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today.