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UPCOMING
EVENTS

Sat, Sept 11
Avenues
Street Fair

9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Stop by the ACLU of Utah booth and get a free t-shirt when you join or renew your membership!

More info >>

Fri, Sept 17
"The Past,
Present and
Uncertain
Future of
Immigration in
the United States"

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
First in a two-part series of discussions on immigration law and policy.
@ SLC Main Library
(210 E. 400 S.)

More info >>


 


In addition to responding to allegations of police misconduct, the ACLU of Utah proactively works to ensure constitutional police practices by advocating for increased police accountability and educating the public about its rights with law enforcement.

Learn about national ACLU’s work related to police practices >>


Press Releases - Litigation
Legal Advocacy and Policy Work
Legislative Reports - Resources - Events

Local Law Enforcement Stand Up Against Negative Impacts of SB81
Posted 4/16/09 - Several major Utah law enforcement agencies have now spoken out against SB81, slated for implementation on July 1, 2009, including the Salt Lake City Police Department, West Valley City Police Department, and the Utah Highway Patrol. They object to the potential for racial profiling, and are concerned that fear in the immigrant community will result in both underreporting of crime and a deterioration of trust between officers and residents.

UHP Director Won't Certify Officers with ICE >>
SLPD Chief Says They Won't Enforce SB81 >>

February 18: Pioneer Park Surveillance Cameras Pose Civil Liberties Problems, Not Likely to Affect Crime (PDF)

Gang Bill Could Lead to Racial Profiling
Posted 1/30/09 - ACLU of Utah Staff Attorney, Marina Lowe, testified before and circulated a letter to the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Standing Committee outlining concerns regarding SB 16 "Prohibited Gang Activity."

Read the letter (PDF) >>

ACLU of Utah Condemns Use of Tasers on Pregnant Women
MAR 20, 2008 - The ACLU of Utah recently advocated on behalf of a pregnant inmate subjected to remote control taser device. We contacted the Washington County Sheriff to ensure that this practice, of which we were informed by a female inmate who is six months pregnant, has been discontinued.

Read the letter >>


Press Releases
ACLU joins lawsuit challenging raids of concerts and violation of free speech: Utah court’s ruling upholding use of 12-hour ordinance is disappointing, says ACLU (9/26/05)

Constitution’s protection against unreasonable search and seizure applies to all immigrants: ACLU files a brief urging Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse an unprecedented lower court ruling on U.S. v. Esparza-Mendoza (1/6/04)

ACLU of Utah Concerned about the Fourth Circuit Court’s Decision on Miranda Rights (2/9/99)

Litigation
Uprock v. Tracy

Walker v. City of Orem

U.S. v. Esparza-Mendoza

Foote v. Spiegel

Mani Kang v. Utah State Department of Public Safety

Skultin v. Bushnell

Valdez v. McPheters

Legal Advocacy and Policy Work
ACLU of Utah asks Salt Lake City Mayor Anderson and Police Chief Burbank to change SLCPD Taser Policy (4/26/06)

In a letter to the Salt Lake City Police Civilian Review Board, the ACLU of Utah outlines its recommendations for the use of tasers by the Salt Lake City Police Department (6/20/05)

ACLU of Utah requests information from the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force about that agency’s January 21 “knock and talk” (4/4/05)

Letter to the Lehi Police Department regarding its record release policy (7/21/04)

Letter to Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard regarding vehicle checkpoints and the recently decided case Utah v. Abell (5/12/03)

ACLU of Utah Asks Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Department About Memorial Day Checkpoints (5/28/02)

ACLU of Utah Sends Public Records Request to Get Copies of Videotapes of Olympic Legal Observers (4/4/02)

ACLU of Utah Asks Davis County to Address Searches of Legal Observers (4/3/02)

ACLU of Utah Sends Letter Regarding Salt Lake City’s Proposed Police Civilian Review Board Ordinance (9/10/01)

ACLU of Utah Comments on Salt Lake City’s Proposed Police Civilian Review Board Ordinance (3/5/01)

ACLU of Utah Writes Public Safety Commissioner Craig Dearden (9/2/99)

The ACLU of Utah Sends a Letter to Salt Lake City Council Members Opposing the Proposed Anti-Cruising Ordinance (5/25/99)

ACLU of Utah Sends Letter to Salt Lake City Council Opposing Federal Pilot Project to Grant Immigration Authority to Salt Lake City Police (8/28/98)

From Our Legislative Reports
Proposed bill attempted to do away with Fourth Amendment rights for parolees (2007)

Law does away with some asset forfeiture reforms (2004)

Unsuccessful bill sought to curb police arrest powers (2002)

Database established to collect race information on police stops (2002)

Due process rights for highway roadblocks codified (2001)

Racial profiling bill fails (2000)

Lawmakers consider two asset forfeiture bills (1999)

Position Papers and Articles
Asset Forfeiture (January 2004)

Pioneer Park Project (Fall 2002)

On Location With the Men and Women of Law Enforcement or How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Fall 2002)

Homeless in Salt Lake City (Fall 2002)

ACLU of Utah Supports Ballot Initiative B “Utah Property Protection Act” (Fall 2000)

Resources

Know Your Rights When Encountering Law Enforcement - This booklet addresses what rights you have when you are stopped, questioned, arrested, or searched by law enforcement officers. This booklet is for citizens and non-citizens with extra information for non-citizens in a separate section. (2008)

What to Do If You Are a Victim of Police Misconduct in Utah (January 2006)

Bust Card: What to Do If You’re Stopped by the Police (July 2004)


For Muslim and Arab American Communities in Utah: Information About Your Rights if You Are Questioned or Detained by Federal Law Enforcement (March 2003)

Events

Don't Miss It: "American Violet" with Graham Boyd of the ACLU's Drug Law Reform Project on November 2!

Posted 10/19/09 - Join us for the third film in our four-part Civil Liberties Film Series, in partnership with the Salt Lake City Film Center. For our post-film discussion, we will be joined by Graham Boyd, the founding director of the ACLU's Drug Law Reform Project - and the real-life ACLU attorney who litigated the Hearne, Texas, drug-sweep case upon which the film "American Violet" is based!

Get all the details >>

Listen to KRCL's Radioactive - featuring Graham Boyd and Marina Lowe of the ACLU talking about the film, the case, and the 6th and 14th Amendments >>

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Issues
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» Equal Protection
» Free Expression
» Immigrants’ Rights
» LGBT Equality
» Open Government
» Police Practices
» Post-9/11
» Prison/Jails
» Privacy
» Religious Liberty
» Reproductive Rights
» Student Rights
» Voting Rights

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