Tweets

Colorado Rights Blog

Videos

  • Anthony Martinez is 84-years-old and suffering from renal failure, as well as other serious medical conditions including dementia. He is currently incarcerated in the Sterling Correctional Facility, site of one of Colorado’s largest COVID-19 outbreaks with almost 600 active COVID-19 cases. He and his family are understandably terrified that he will catch the virus and die.

    In the midst of this public health crisis, incarcerated people as vulnerable as Anthony, could and should be immediately released to safely live out their remaining years with family.

    Read more about Anthony Martinez and other at-risk incarcerated people. 

  • Ronald Johnson is pre-diabetic, suffers from asthma and high blood pressure, and regularly uses an inhaler to breathe. His age and respiratory ailments put him at risk of serious illness and death if he contracts COVID-19. With over hundreds of active cases in Colorado’s prisons, his family fears he will not make it out alive. His daughter, Amber, says, “In prison, he can’t protect himself and he can’t social distance. My deep fear is that my dad will die in prison. That is an awful, traumatic reality to consider. My chest is tight just thinking about how quickly it spreads and how vulnerable he is.”

    Governor Hickenlooper shortened his sentence following testimony from family, friends and correctional officers advocating for his early release. Yet, he is still eight years away from parole. While he remains in prison, COVID-19 continues to spread. Ronald’s three siblings, four children and four grandchildren are desperate for his release.

    Read more about Ronald Johnson and other at-risk incarcerated people.

  • Tuesday Olson knew her pregnancy was in trouble and tried to access hospital care as soon as possible. But there was a problem: she was in jail. This is her story.

  • It’s time to end the death penalty in Colorado. Family members who lost loved ones to murder speak out against an unjust and broken system.

News

Search

8.10.10

On behalf of homeless man, ACLU takes Boulder

(8/10/10) Contact Mark Silverstein, ACLU Legal Director, 303-777-5482 x114; Mark Walta, ACLU Cooperating Attorney, 303-953-5999 ACLU lawyers announced today a legal challenge to a Boulder ordinance that defines homeless persons as criminals when they are caught sleeping outdoors at night with a blanket or sleeping bag. “When the homeless shelters are closed or full, it is terribly unfair, and unconstitutional, to impose fines and jail sentences on persons who have no choice but to sleep.... | Read More

8.10.10

On behalf of homeless man, ACLU takes Boulder

Contact Mark Silverstein, ACLU Legal Director, 303-777-5482 x114; Mark Walta, ACLU Cooperating Attorney, 303-953-5999 ACLU lawyers announced today a legal challenge to a Boulder ordinance that defines homeless persons as criminals when they are caught sleeping outdoors at night with a blanket or sleeping bag.   “When the homeless shelters are closed or full, it is terribly unfair, and unconstitutional, to impose fines and jail sentences on persons who have no choice but to sleep outdoors,”.... | Read More

8.9.10

ACLU Wins Major Victory in Longstanding Defense of Student Journalist

CONTACT:  Mark Silverstein, ACLU Legal Director, 303-777-5482 x114   Issuing a decision in a longstanding ACLU case, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that a Weld County assistant prosecutor can be held legally responsible for an illegal search of the home of Thomas Mink and the illegal seizure of his computer. The search was carried out pursuant to a warrant issued in late 2003 as part of a Greeley Police Department investigation of supposed “criminal libel” for.... | Read More

8.9.10

ACLU Sues Boulder County Jail For Restricting Prisoners

First Amendment Rights of Prisoners And Their Correspondents Are Violated     CONTACT: Mark Silverstein, ACLU Legal Director, 303-777-5482 x114   Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Colorado today sued Boulder County Jail officials for enacting an unconstitutional policy barring prisoners from sending letters to people in the outside world.     Implemented in March, the policy restricts all outgoing correspondence to postcards.... | Read More