News & Commentary

A federal district court judge today granted class action certification to the ACLU of Colorado’s First Amendment lawsuit against the Boulder County Jail, moving forward the ACLU’s efforts to end unconstitutional post-card only prisoner mail policies.

SB-176 was heard by the Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee. It was significantly amended.

In the state of Colorado, the number of mentally ill or developmentally disabled prison inmates in solitary confinement has more than doubled in about 10 years. According to the Colorado Department of Corrections, in 1999, 15 percent of inmates in solitary confinement were mentally ill or developmentally disabled. In 2008, it was 37 percent. Most people`s exposure

Michelle Alexander, the author of the ground-breaking book "The New Jim Crow:  Mass Incarceration in an Age of Colorblindness," will lead a public forum 6pm, February 23, Park Hill United Methodist Church, 5209 Montview Blvd.

Crimes of punishmentby J. Adrian Stanley 

BARRY FAGINColumnist

David Fathi, Director of the ACLU's National Prison Project, talks with KGNU's Joel Edelstein about Colorado's mass incarceration crisis. In addition to discussing our state's draconian sentencing laws, such as mandatory minimums, required parole and absurdly harsh penalties for personal drug use, he focuses in particular on Colorado's overuse of solitary confinement.

The ACLU of Colorado, and other activists for religious freedom, are calling on the United States Air Force Academy' to withdraw its inviation to fomer Marine Lt.  Clebe McClary, a self-professed "Member of the Lord's Army," who is scheduled to speak at the USAFA's February 10 National Prayer Luncheon.

The case of Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck's illegal search and seizure of private tax files from a Greeley tax preparer in 2008 is over. District Court Judge Stephen Schapanski drove the final nail in the coffin of the Weld DA and Sheriff's unconstitutional 2008 search of Amalia's Translation &  Tax Service.