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Policing

Law enforcement must protect both public safety and the rights of individuals. This is why arrests and use of force should be last resorts, not first options, for police. The ACLU-WA advocates for stronger laws regulating police use of force, alternatives to arrest and incarceration, and de-escalation practices and training. And to ensure law enforcement is accountable to the people they serve, the ACLU-WA works for greater community oversight, such as independent civilian review boards with disciplinary authority.

Resources

News Release, Published: 
Friday, June 21, 2019
A broad coalition of more than two dozen community organizations delivered a letter to the mayor and city councilmembers urging the City of Seattle to live up to promises made over many years to have a stronger police accountability and disciplinary system the community can trust, and to come into full compliance with a federal consent decree entered more than seven years ago.
Published: 
Friday, February 8, 2019
The legislative process isn’t just about laws; It’s about people. This is why we need you, our ACLU-WA members and supporters, to join us in advancing our 2019 legislative agenda.
Published: 
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Read about our 2019 Washington State Legislative Agenda
Published: 
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Embedding mental health professionals in law enforcement teams saves lives.
Published: 
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Civil liberties highlights from the 2018 Washington State Legislative Session
News Release, Published: 
Monday, January 22, 2018
The ACLU of Washington and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project are notifying law enforcement agencies in Washington about the settlement of a lawsuit in which the City of Spokane agreed to pay damages and attorneys’ fees to a man it unlawfully detained and held for immigration authorities after he was the victim of a car accident.
News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
On January 9, 2018, Gabriel Gomez and the City of Spokane reached a final settlement in a lawsuit Mr. Gomez filed last August over a police officer having unlawfully detained him after he was the victim of a car accident.
Published: 
Friday, November 10, 2017
Courts have consistently held that when people invite law enforcement into their homes, they have a right to say where those officers can and cannot go.

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