The ACLU of Kansas is never busier than when the Legislature is in session. Either independently or with our partners in various and diverse coalitions, we work to protect civil liberties for all Kansans by either placing, supporting, altering, or defeating legislation that would threaten those civil liberties.
In recent years, organizations spanning the political spectrum have spoken against current civil asset forfeiture laws. These laws have been called many things: highway robbery. Policing for profit. An unconstitutional attack on the basic rights of citizens. HB 2640 addresses critical…
The ACLU of Kansas opposes the passage of SB 394. This bill is one of many election-related bills introduced this session that limits the voting rights of Kansans for no discernable reason. The current 3-day grace period is necessary to allow voters, the USPS, and election clerks…
Currently, individuals whose property is confiscated under Kansas civil asset forfeiture laws face an uphill battle in retrieving their property from law enforcement. You do not need to be arrested or convicted of a crime for law enforcement to seize and permanently keep your…
Imagine someone you know is arrested for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell. They are convicted and sent to prison. Following release and post-release supervision, they are ready to put their mistakes behind them and make different choices. Instead, they find…
The ACLU of Kansas opposes HB 2555. Voting should not be made more difficult for Kansans—and striking registered voters from the rolls because of inactivity does just that. This bill would penalize people who don’t vote regularly, forcing them to reregister and potentially…
Unreliable testimony from so-called “jailhouse informants” is a key component of wrongful convictions and a contributing factor to systemic inequality in our criminal legal system. There is a well-documented history of misleading or false information provided by jailhouse…