Publication
Aug 5, 2018
ACLU of Massachusetts client Clayton Gordon and his family in 2018
  • Immigrants' Rights

Supreme Court case has echoes in Massachusetts

A Massachusetts federal court case has yielded important lessons for an upcoming argument at the U.S. Supreme Court about the scope of mandatory immigration detention.
Publication
Aug 1, 2018
Massachusetts State House

The legislative session just ended. Here's what happened.

In the face of relentless federal attacks on reproductive freedom, immigrants’ rights, open government, free press, and democracy itself – we set out to protect people whose rights are most threatened by proposed changes to federal law.
Publication
Jul 30, 2018
WADADAM DA Email Banner Burgundy
  • Criminal Law Reform|
  • +2 Issues

District attorneys and the criminalization of addiction

Addiction is a public health issue that requires health-based treatment, not punishment. But too many people spend time in jail instead of spending time in treatment.
Publication
Jul 2, 2018
Two cartoon district attorneys. One points towards a sign that says 'courtroom' as an officer brings someone in cuffs that way. The other DA points towards an 'exit' sign as another officer brings someone in cuffs that way.
  • Racial Justice|
  • +1 Issue

District attorneys and racial justice

Systemic racism and stereotypes dramatically shape our criminal legal system by disproportionately targeting and incarcerating people of color.
Publication
May 16, 2018
red pixelated padlock on data screen
  • Privacy and Surveillance

Act now to stop surveillance expansion in Massachusetts

Next week, the Massachusetts state senate is set to consider vast new surveillance powers for law enforcement. We cannot allow this dangerous legislation to become law.
Publication
May 11, 2018
Ready Player One
  • Privacy and Surveillance

Hollywood offers ominous visions of facial recognition's future

We don’t yet inhabit these imagined worlds, but if we aren’t careful, the reality of ubiquitous tracking via facial recognition isn’t far away.
Publication
May 8, 2018
Screenshot from mandatory minimums video
  • Criminal Law Reform|
  • +1 Issue

DAs and mandatory minimums

In the United States, approximately 94 percent of all convictions happen because the accused plead guilty. This means that people charged with crimes rarely – if ever – go to trial.
Publication
Apr 4, 2018
1964 photo of Martin Luther King Jr. leaning on a lectern
  • Racial Justice

A movement 50 years in the making

You can kill a person, but you cannot kill a movement.
Publication
Apr 2, 2018
Screenshot from mandatory minimums video
  • Government Transparency|
  • +2 Issues

District attorneys and civil asset forfeiture

When the ACLU of Massachusetts conducted a poll last July, voters were most surprised to learn that district attorneys control funds gained through civil asset forfeiture.