Criminal Legal Reform

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Increasingly harsh criminal justice policies over the last three decades have resulted in a system that relies on over-criminalization, mass incarceration, and racial injustice. Instead of ensuring public safety and addressing the root causes of crime, the war on drugs has led to unconstitutional police practices, unfair and inconsistent sentencing, and abuses of authority which only harm, rather than help, the public, and extremely disproportionately affect minorities.

Nationally, the ACLU's Smart Justice movement has sought to orchestrate national reforms to the “front end” of the criminal justice system from policing to sentencing. This includes putting an end to racially motivated policing and sentencing, increasing government accountability and transparency, and reversing the shift toward excessive incarceration.

What are we doing about it?

The ACLU of Kansas launched the Reimagine Justice campaign, which centers on creating change in Kansas's criminal legal system. The main objectives outlined in the campaign are eliminating fines and fees in juvenile courts, decriminalizing medical marijuana, and decreasing the number of people detained pretrial.

We know that reimagining our criminal legal system is not a partisan, ideological, or political issue. It is an issue that impacts all of us. And we're fighting for better, fairer, more prosperous outcomes for those who come in contact with it.

The Latest

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White House Domestic Policy Counsel Office, Leavenworth Cou. Commission re: CoreCivic Leavenworth

Press Release
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Gov. Kelly releases three ACLU of Kansas Clemency Project clients, paving the way for many more such releases

In a historic move the ACLU of Kansas hopes will normalize the use of executive clemency, Governor Laura Kelly today released three affiliate clients from various state prisons via commutation.
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Shut Down "Alligator Alcatraz"

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Prison opposition standing tall

Court Case
Jun 13, 2022

AMICUS BRIEF: State v. Garrett

Court Case
May 26, 2022

Glendening et al. v. Howard et al. [KDADS – Larned State Hospital]

The ACLU of Kansas, along with partners, filed a class action suit on May 26, 2022 against the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), citing wait times as long as 13 months for competency evaluations and restoration treatment for people facing criminal charges.
Court Case
Apr 19, 2021

Progeny et al v. City of Wichita et al

On April 15, 2021 the ACLU of Kansas and Kansas Appleseed filed a class-action lawsuit against the City of Wichita, challenging the Wichita Police Department's use of a "gang" list.
Court Case
Oct 08, 2021

Shaw v. Jones

On January 30, 2020, the ACLU of Kansas filed a lawsuit challenging the Kansas Highway Patrol’s practice of unconstitutionally targeting motorists with out-of-state plates traveling to and from Colorado and routinely employing a training technique known as the “Kansas Two-Step.”