Court Cases

An investigation by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado (ACLU) revealed that the Garfield County Sheriff’s Department (GCSD) has referred several victims of domestic violence to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, resulting in those individuals being placed in deportation proceedings because they chose to report acts of domestic violence to law enforcement.

Members of the Denver City Council were scheduled to debate a proposal that would make it illegal, and impose fines or jail time, for sleeping outside on public property anywhere in the city.

This lawsuit was originally filed on behalf of five persons, each of whom was unjustly arrested and imprisoned—up to 26 days in one case—in a “mistaken identity” arrest.

This case alleges that Denver police targeted plaintiff Jose Sanchez unjustifiably while he was standing lawfully on the public sidewalk outside the home of his girlfriend, plaintiff Joshinna Carreras.

After months of collaboration and negotiation with ACLU lawyers, the Colorado Department of Corrections agreed to end the use of punitive restraints on non-violent, compliant inmates. These restraints include not only hand and ankle cuffs, but also torso and between-the-legs chains that severely restrict a prisoner’s movement.

In a letter dated October 17, 2011, the ACLU of Colorado urged the Roaring Fork School Board to adopt a policy prohibiting the current practice of School Resource Officers (SROs) collaborating with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).