News & Commentary

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit challenging a state law that allows judges to extend probation for years when an offender fails to pay restitution in their cases. The lawsuit alleges the practice punishes people for being poor.

Monica Bennett, ACLU of Kansas legal director, said protection from arbitrary and unequal treatment under the law was a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution. “There is nothing about being poor that means you should be treated differently when serving a probation term, but it’s apparent that if our clients and many other Kansans were simply able to pay, their rights would be restored,” she said.

The lawsuit, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas on behalf of four plaintiffs, was lodged against Attorney General Kris Kobach as well as six current and former Johnson County judges.

On October 10th, 2025, a coalition of advocate organizations including the ACLU of Kansas sent a letter to Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett concerning pretrial detention. This practice, which should be used only when neccessary, has become the default, subverting the presumption of innoncence at the heart of our criminal legal system and creating a two-tiered system where those who have money can buy their freedom, while those who cannot are left in jail—and often face life-altering consequences as a result. This letter asked DA Bennett to use his discretion to reduce the number of people detained pretrial to help reduce the harm of our broken bail system.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and several Wichita organizations are urging the Sedgwick County Court System to change its bail practices, saying the current system unfairly impacts people living in poverty.

In early July, the ACLU of Kansas called for the “immediate release” of the body camera footage from the June 22 shooting. The release, the nonprofit said, would allow for transparency and accountability.

A new ACLU study reveals how cash bail policies in Sedgwick County disproportionately impact low-income families, fueling a contentious statewide and national conversation about crime, justice, and economic inequality.

The Kansas ACLU is calling for the release of inmates facing nonviolent charges without having to pay bail.

In a recent study, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas asks people to imagine a Wichita-area husband and wife raising a daughter who are living paycheck to paycheck.