Criminal Legal Reform
Our criminal justice system is broken.
Over the past few decades, our elected leaders have increasingly focused on tough penalties that do not deter crime and do nothing to help increase public safety. Instead, it has created a system of mass incarceration, over-criminalization, and racial injustice.
Through our work, the ACLU of South Dakota advocates for the constitutional and civil rights of those impacted by criminal legal systems. We use litigation and advocacy to confront systemic government conduct that fuels the carceral state and police abuse, and oppresses people based on race, class, and other characteristics. The ACLU does this work because everyone suspected, accused, or convicted of a crime deserves dignity, fairness, and an opportunity to thrive. Ultimately, we seek to shift power to under-resourced communities and to elevate approaches to justice and safety that advance fundamental rights for all.
The Latest
Criminal Justice Reform Better Than Building New Prison
Five Years After George Floyd, the Fight for Police Accountability Isn't Over
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