Research & Publications

Across Kansas, there are people in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections suffering from terminal medical conditions affords people compassion, fairness, and dignity. Often called “compassionate release” or, here in Kansas, “terminal medical release,” this process allows the Department of Corrections (KDOC) to release someone from incarceration before the end of their sentence because of a medical condition likely to cause death within a certain amount of time. In Kansas, terminal medical release is only available if a person is within thirty days of death. In other words, KDOC may release a terminally ill person early—but only if they are right at death’s door, and only after a lengthy, cumbersome review process.

Civil asset forfeiture is being used by police departments countrywide to take money, vehicles, or even homes from individuals with little oversight. Ezekial Edwards, former Director of the ACLU’s Criminal Law Reform Project calls civil asset forfeiture “legalized robbery by law enforcement."

Kansas courts indiscriminately shackle and restrain children appearing before them. Courts are not required to first decide whether it is necessary, and nothing prohibits courts from using restraints on children as a matter of course.

Four of our women clemency clients between them have started a hospice program, worked in the dog training program, and completed dozens of classes. They all deserve consideration for release. They deserve justice.

As two of our Clemency Project clients, Joseph Jones and Dominic Holder, are released from prison after being granted clemency, they know better than the rest how important home really is.

Kansans awaiting trial have been stuck in limbo since the COVID-19 pandemic brought the country to a halt this past year. Now, Kansas has suspended speedy trial deadlines in order to catch up to the case backlog, meaning defendants and victims alike could be waiting several more years.

Last week, Governor Kelly granted executive clemency to eight Kansans, including three ACLU of Kansas clients. This news came over a year after we started the Clemency Project.

Last year, the ACLU of Kansas launched the Clemency Project, and we’ve filed 108 applications for Clemency with Governor Kelly’s Office. Sharon Brett, Legal Director at the ACLU of Kansas, answers frequently asked questions about the project.

Ronald Pursley, 63, is slated for release on October 25, 2021. At the time of his application last year, he’d suffered from congestive heart failure and heart attack history, and his health has worsened since then. Despite these challenges, the warden last month denied his application for release.