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As the leading civil rights organization in the Grand Canyon State, we at the ACLU of Arizona believe it is our duty to keep the public informed about the state of their civil liberties. The work we do at the legislature, in the courts, and in our communities is important, but there is no better defender of civil rights than a public that is informed and engaged.
Last week, I took a field trip to the Arizona State Capitol with the ACLU of Arizona’s Campaign for Smart Justice. Standing in the halls of power was an informative and empowering experience and has me fired up to advocate for long-overdue criminal legal reform.
Prop. 205 is named “Tucson Families Free and Together” because that’s exactly what this historic initiative aims to do. If passed, Prop. 205 will make Tucson a safer city for all its residents. It will keep families together, communities strong and rebuild the public’s trust in local police.
In Arizona, elected county attorneys are the most powerful people in the criminal justice system. As the county’s chief prosecutor, they have the power to decide who goes to prison and for how long.
This week, the Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan will formally retire leaving behind a department in turmoil. I spent 13 years in the Arizona prison system and I recently met with members of Gov.
Times are changing and the pressure society has placed upon the youth has only grown. Many of our classmates feel like the weight of the world has been placed on our shoulders. While we’re seeing an increase in suicide in teens, the topic of mental health remains taboo.
In a brazen display of unchecked power and influence, Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk censored a public defender by keeping him from sharing with Arizonans how much influence she and her fellow county attorneys have at the state Legislature.
