News & Commentary
Oct 22, 2015
Colorado Springs Sentences Hundreds of Impoverished People to Debtors’ Prison in Violation of U.S Constitution and State Law
DENVER – The Colorado Springs Municipal Court is routinely violating the United States Constitution and state law by jailing hundreds of people because they are too poor to pay court-ordered fines and fees, according to an ACLU letter sent to the City Attorney and the Municipal Court this morning.
Oct 01, 2015
Federal Court Strikes Down Grand Junction Panhandling Ordinance
DENVER - Federal District Court Judge Christine Arguello issued a 39-page decision yesterday striking down Grand Junction’s panhandling ordinance, ruling that it violates the First Amendment rights of persons who wish to solicit charity in public places.
Sep 30, 2015
Colorado Springs Orders Police to Stop Illegal Enforcement of Panhandling Ordinance After ACLU Steps In
In a remarkable turn of events, the City of Colorado Springs has ordered the Colorado Springs Police Department to immediately stop issuing citations for alleged violations of ordinance 10.18.112, titled “Soliciting on or Near Street or Highway”. It has also forbidden citations for most sections of ordinance of 9.2.111 “Solicitation Prohibited.”
Sep 25, 2015
ACLU Wins Dismissal of Criminal Charges against Ryan Brown, Renews Call for Internal Affairs Records Related to Racially-Biased Traffic Stop
DENVER –The ACLU of Colorado renewed its request today for records related to the Colorado Springs Police Department’s internal affairs investigation into the traffic stop of Ryan and Benjamin Brown, two ACLU clients who were pulled over, handcuffed, searched, and detained at gun point and taser point over a cracked windshield.
Sep 15, 2015
Colorado Springs Targets Impoverished People through Unfair, Discriminatory, and Illegal Enforcement of Panhandling Laws
DENVER - The Colorado Springs Police Department, City Attorney’s Office, and Municipal Court are illegally enforcing the City’s panhandling laws against impoverished people who have not violated those laws, according to a letter sent yesterday to the City Attorney by the ACLU of Colorado. According to the letter, the City’s practice has resulted in poor people being fined and imprisoned—for as long as 90 days—“under circumstances that cannot be legally or morally justified.”
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