Author: Nick Worner, Author at ACLU of Ohio

04.21.14

A Day at Lucasville

Nick Worner

On April 3, 2014, the ACLU of Ohio toured the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF), a high security prison located in southern Ohio better known by the moniker “Lucasville.”

Below are some reflections on our visit to SOCF, from three of the staff members who visited the facility.

04.18.14

Automatic License Plate Readers: A Recipe for Trouble

Nick Worner and Melissa Bilancini

Privacy isn’t about hiding your information. Privacy is about controlling your information. That’s why automatic license plate readers (ALPR’s) are so troubling.

There’s nothing new about police officers checking individual license plates sporadically throughout the day. But a machine that scans every single plate that passes by 24/7 is something totally different.

04.12.14

Media Roundup » 04/04/14 through 04/11/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Chief Justice O’Connor slams door on debtors’ prisons – Youngstown Vindicator, 4/6*
• City to review board’s closed-door policy – Dayton Daily News, 4/6*
• Supreme Court won’t hear case on gay wedding snub – USA Today, 4/7
• Lax rules harm accountability – Columbus Dispatch, 4/7
• Legislators threaten to slash Cuyahoga County funding over FitzGerald absentee ballot mailings – Cleveland.com,

04.10.14

Media Roundup » 03/21/14 through 04/04/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Parents threaten to sink Elyria Schools renewal – Elyria Chronicle Telegram, 3/22*
• Bus ride to Mount Airy simulates voter trek – Cincinatti Enquirer, 3/22
• Ohio’s false-statement law is unconstitutional – Cincinnati Enquirer, 3/23*
• Prayer continues to raise eyebrows in the Falls – Akron Beacon Journal, 3/2
• ACLU wants supreme court to review shackling of juveniles – Journal News, 3/23*
• Dayton leaders want voting changes repealed – Dayton Daily News, 3/23
• Council might vote Monday on proposed meth lab law – Chillicothe Gazette, 3/24*
• Complainers list holds risks – Columbus Dispatch, 3/24
• Too many suspensions, too few science courses plague minority schools – Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/25
• Savings for proposed online voting registration may not reach expectations from Husted, legislators – Cleveland.com,

03.25.14

Media Roundup » 03/15/14 through 03/21/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Enough with the early voting complaints: Brent Larkin – Cleveland.com, 3/15
• Too many requests for public records rejected, officials say – Columbus Dispatch, 3/17
• Columbus police maintain list of frequent complainers – Columbus Dispatch, 3/17*
• Ohio case gets serious and satirical attention before Supreme Court hearing – USA Today, 3/17*
• House bill to award high school credit for religious coursework: How they voted – Cleveland.com,

03.17.14

Media Roundup » 02/28/14 through 03/14/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Broad language in religious freedom bill could have prompted discriminatory behavior, particularly against gays, legal experts say – Cleveland.com, 2/28*
• GOP, abetted by Gov. Kasich, continues its shameful assault on voting rights in Ohio – Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/1
• Proposed new jail standards both praised, condemned – Columbus Dispatch, 3/2
• In old Fairfield County lockup, standards hard to meet – Columbus Dispatch, 3/2
• A speed trap is reborn – Columbus Dispatch, 3/2
• Fewer going to juvenile detention – Columbus Dispatch, 3/3
• Butler County village can’t use red-light cameras – AP, 3/3
• Cleveland and Columbus charter school concerns will be taken on by upcoming bills in the legislature – Cleveland.com,

03.06.14

Religious freedom never should cause harm to other people

Danielle Doza and Nick Worner

The Bill of Rights gives us all the freedom to express our beliefs without government persecution.  For some reason, fear has spread around the country that this protection is not enough.  Religious protection bills have appeared around the nation, including the vetoed bill in Arizona and Ohio’s own Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was indefinitely postponed.

02.28.14

Media Roundup » 02/21/14 through 02/28/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Local governor candidate denies he committed election fraud – Dayton Daily News, 2/21
• Death penalty generating debate; abolition unlikely – Dayton Daily News, 2/22
• No mayor’s court? Fine! – Columbus Dispatch, 2/22
• Start looking for early voting site now – Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/23
• Ohio Gay-Marriage Push Divides Some Advocates – The New York Times, 2/23
• Abolishing Ohio’s death penalty would be humane, economically prudent: State Rep.

02.21.14

Media Roundup » 02/14/14 through 02/21/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Violence in County Juvenile Detention Center called “critical” – Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/14
• National gay marriage advocates will not support ‘Freedom to Marry’ amendment slated for 2014 election – Cleveland.com, 2/14*
• Why There’s an Even Larger Racial Disparity in Private Prisons Than in Public Ones – Mother Jones, 2/17*
• Bill would require group homes to provide more info – Columbus Dispatch, 2/18
• Gay-rights suit may alter parents on birth records – Columbus Dispatch, 2/18
• Candidate denounces ‘voter intimidation’ – Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/18
• Homeland Security wants to build national database using license-plate scanners – Washington Post, 2/18
• WATCHDOG: Prisoners, ex-cons swell Medicaid rolls – Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/18
• Ohio House Republicans should walk away from bills aimed at decreasing the ease of voting in Ohio – Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/18
• Board of Elections considering move – Dayton Daily News, 2/19
• GOP bill alters Ohio rules for provisional ballots – Columbus Dispatch, 2/19
• Study: Classes for inmates pay off – Columbus Dispatch, 2/19
• Gov.

02.15.14

Media Roundup » 02/07/14 through 02/14/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Ohio finds new ways to make abortions harder to get – Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/7
• Immigration debate hits Ohio – Centralohio.com, 2/8*
• Public officials shouldn’t try to keep the public’s information from the public – Cleveland.com, 2/8
• State employees ‘had to pay’ for mistakenly licensing abortion clinic – Dayton Daily News, 2/8
• Delayed passage of rape legislation inexcusable – Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/9
• Ohio Voters Bill of Rights aims to end partisan interference with voting rights: Thomas Suddes – Cleveland.com,

02.10.14

Media Roundup » 02/01/14 through 02/07/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Election history will repeat itself in Ohio districts drawn to favor one party or the other – Cleveland.com, 2/2
• Inmate’s attorneys ask to stop execution, citing possible ‘lingering death’ – Columbus Dispatch, 2/3
• Exonerations On The Rise, And Not Just Because Of DNA – NPR, 2/4
• Right-to-work would be an unnecessary and divisive fight in Ohio: editorial – Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/4*
• Red-light ruling a concern for cities – Columbus Dispatch, 2/4
• Will ‘War on Women’ messaging work for Ed FitzGerald and Democrats in 2014?

01.31.14

Media Roundup » 01/26/14 through 01/31/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• State constitution panel has ‘hobbling start’ – Columbus Dispatch, 1/26
• Traffic enforcement cameras violate due process rights: Ohio Rep. Dale Mallory – Cleveland.com, 1/26
• Ohio parents’ lawsuit accuses teacher of duct-taping girl with disabilities to chair, screaming at kids, stealing snacks – AP, 1/26
• South Side neighborhood installs own cameras – Columbus Dispatch, 1/27*
• Study details Ohio nonprofits’ funding, needs – Columbus Dispatch, 1/27
• Early Voting Could Move Outside Downtown – Cincinnati CityBeat, 1/27
• Rights of mentally ill key in legislative debate – Columbus Dispatch, 1/27
• Officials investigate whether executed killer faked suffocation – Columbus Dispatch, 1/27
• Private Prisons: The Case for Divestment – Huffington Post, 1/27
• New Tech Brings Convenience, Privacy Concerns – The Sound of Ideas, 1/28*
• Traffic camera court ruling has Cleveland suburbs mulling options – Cleveland.com,

01.25.14

Media Roundup » 01/18/14 through 01/24/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Proposed law sparks debate over student expulsions – Hamilton County Journal News, 1/19*
• Egregious execution – Toledo Blade, 1/19
• Dispatch special report: Private cops being shielded from the public – Columbus Dispatch, 1/19
• Ohio judge to rule on refund of fines from village’s traffic cameras, which he calls a ‘scam’ – Cleveland.com,

01.18.14

Media Roundup » 01/11/14 through 01/17/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• A welcome judicial rebuke to legislators’ attempt to impair third-party Ohio ballot access – Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1/11
• DeWine has voiced own doubts about election law – Columbus Dispatch, 1/12
• It’s time to take the death penalty off life support – Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1/11
• Manipulating voting laws to win elections has long been a GOP game in Ohio: Thomas Suddes – Cleveland.com,

01.13.14

Media Roundup » 01/04/14 through 01/10/14

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Discipline decisions mostly left up to individual educators – Massillon Independent, 1/5
• Opinions vary on why Ohio snubbed on drone project – Columbus Dispatch, 1/
• Potential voter fraud cases from 2012 election often dropped as simple mistakes, elderly confusion – Cleveland.com,

01.04.14

Media Roundup » 12/21/13 through 01/03/13

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Gov. Kasich undermines State Medical Board with pro-life appointments: Arthur Lavin – Cleveland.com, 12/21
• Photo ID law would be costly and unnecessary: Ohio Rep. Kathleen Clyde – Cleveland.com, 12/28
• Drone Use Soars in Latin America, Remains Widely Unregulated – Truthout, 12/30
• ‘If I Need ID to Buy Cough Syrup, Why Shouldn’t I Need ID to Vote?’

12.21.13

Media Roundup » 12/13/13 through 12/20/13

Nick Worner

* ACLU of Ohio Mentioned

• Prisoner and Reporter Talk about ACLU Lawsuit over Media Access to Lucasville Riot Inmates – Ideastream, 12/13*
• Redistricting reform needs to be a priority for the state’s constitutional modernization commission – Cleveland Plain Dealer, 12/14
• Ohio’s 2014 legislative calendar will be crammed with election-year politicking and backroom pleading – Cleveland.com,

12.14.13

Media Roundup » 12/07/13 through 12/13/13

Nick Worner

• Nick Worner commentary: Legislature bent on making voting harder – Columbus Dispatch, 12/7
• Unclear how Ohio religious-freedom bill fits with church-state divide – Columbus Dispatch, 12/9
• Cellphone Companies Reveal How Often They Hand Your Data Over to Law Enforcement – Slate.com,

12.12.13

Ohio Legislature Bent on Making Voting Harder

Nick Worner

Below is an excerpt from an Op/Ed that appeared in The Columbus Dispatch on 12/07/2013.

It’s no big secret that manipulating voting laws is a partisan blood sport in Ohio. The controversies of 2004 are the stuff of legend, and in 2012 we saw a voting bill so obviously partisan that the voters themselves organized a ballot referendum to strike it down.

12.07.13

Media Roundup: 11/24/13 through 12/06/13

Nick Worner

• Gun-bill provision worries cities – Columbus Dispatch, 11/25
• Did Hamilton Co. prosecutor Joe Deters vote improperly? – Cincinnati Enquirer, 11/25
• Statue of Jesus sought near school that removed painting – Columbus Dispatch, 11/26
• Peter Lewis is praised at his funeral for his drive, creativity and generosity – Cleveland Plain Dealer, 11/27
• Toledo prison officer attacked by inmate identified – Toledo Blade, 11/27
• Constitution Party, Greens seek to join lawsuit challenging new rules for minor parties – Cleveland.com,

11.26.13

Civil Liberties and the Holidays

Nick Worner

Our nation’s founders understood that true religious liberty can only flourish when the government remains neutral on matters of faith.

With this in mind, people often have questions during the holiday season about the constitutionality of various celebrations going in their towns or schools.

11.25.13

Media Roundup » Week of 11/16/13

Nick Worner

• Downtown Cincinnati panhandlers a growing presence – Cincinnati Enquirer, 11/15
• The Senate votes to end employment discrimination against gays; now the House must take up the cause – Plain Dealer, 11/17
• Another Ohio prison inmate commits suicide – AP, 11/18
• Arguments to ricochet as gun bill is debated – Columbus Dispatch, 11/18
• Supreme Court upholds firing of teacher in religious-symbols case – Columbus Dispatch, 11/19
• ‘Stand Your Ground’ Gun Bill Clears Hurdle At Ohio Statehouse – 10TV, 11/19
• Panhandling as public speech – Akron Beacon Journal, 11/19
• Next Stop On The Road To Surveillance State: License Plate Scanners – Huffington Post, 11/20
• Right to vote – Toledo Blade, 11/21/13
• State audit of JobsOhio doesn’t find conflict-of-interest problems, but recommends bolstering safeguards – Cleveland.com,

11.16.13

Media Roundup » 11/01/13 through 11/15/13

Nick Worner

• Supreme Court to hear new case on religion in public life – Washington Post, 11/1
• Voter ID law snags former House Speaker Jim Wright – Fort Worth Star Telegram, 11/2
• Commentary: Timing an issue for Republicans pushing minor party bill – Dix Capital Bureau, 11/4
• Coal Baron and Major Ken Cuccinelli Campaign Donor Sues Blogger for Defamation, Invasion of Privacy – Desmogblog, 11/3
• JobsOhio case may limit how laws can be fought – Columbus Dispatch, 11/4
• Portman votes to advance bill protecting gays at work – Gannett, 11/5
• 26,000 people have your picture in Ohio – WKYC, 11/5
• State continues to ponder Conneaut prison training facility – Ashtabula Star Beacon, 11/6
• Ohio legislature passes new ballot-access rules for minor political parties; Libertarians promise lawsuit – Cleveland.com,

11.05.13

Standing on the Side of Justice

Nick Worner

On Saturday, November 2, 2013, a coalition of faith groups, unions, professional associations, community groups, and rights organizations (including the ACLU of Ohio) held a rally at the Ohio Statehouse.

Visit our Facebook album for pictures from the rally.

At this rally, we called on Ohio lawmakers to halt the death penalty, end the war on drugs and the epidemic of mass incarceration, break the many reentry barriers for the formerly incarcerated, and put a stop to “stand your ground” proposals in Ohio.

11.02.13

Media Roundup » Week of 11/01/13

Nick Worner

• Panel recommends Mike DeWine restrict access to facial recognition software on state’s crime data system – Cleveland.com, 10/26
• Republican’s absentee-ballot bill for Ohio criticized – Columbus Dispatch, 10/2
• Licking County voters riled by cut in polling places – Columbus Dispatch, 10/28
• Ohio: Child killer to get untried 2-drug injection – Associated Press, 10/28
• There’s still a need for public input – Canton Repository, 10/28/13
• Texas court ruling won’t have an immediate impact on Ohio’s abortion laws, both sides say – Cleveland.com,

10.26.13

Media Roundup: Week of 10/20/13

Nick Worner

• Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction: Rehab at core of our mission – Toledo Blade, 10/20
• High School Football Player Kicked off Team, Suspended Over Poem – Fox8 Cleveland, 10/22
• Ohio ACLU files suit over right to write on sidewalk – Toledo Blade, 10/23
• Group gets OK to write with chalk on sidewalk – Toledo Blade, 10/24
• School Officials: Student’s Poem Punishment Overturned – Fox8 Cleveland, 10/24
• Audit: Private Prison Retains Increased Levels of Violence – Cincinnati CityBeat, 10/24
• Ohio Abortion Clinic Closings Likely to Accelerate Under New State Regulations – Cleveland.com,

10.24.13

Standing Against the Death Penalty

Nick Worner

On Saturday, November 2, 2013 a coalition of faith groups, unions, professional associations, community groups, and rights organizations (including the ACLU of Ohio) will hold a rally at the Ohio Statehouse. At this rally, we will call on Ohio lawmakers to halt the death penalty, end the war on drugs and the epidemic of mass incarceration, break the many reentry barriers for the formerly incarcerated, and put a stop to “stand your ground” proposals in Ohio.

10.10.13

Media Roundup: ACLU Files Lawsuit Over Abortion Restrictions in Ohio Budget

Nick Worner

On October 9, 2013, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio announced a lawsuit challenging three of the controversial abortion-related amendments passed in June as part of the state’s massive budget bill (HB 59).

Below, you’ll find video footage of this press conference, and some highlights from the subsequent media coverage.

09.07.13

Suicide is not Justice: On the death of Ariel Castro

Nick Worner

Let’s start by acknowledging what nearly everyone already knows. Ariel Castro was convicted of heinous crimes for which he deserved to be punished. With that in mind, his suicide just one month into his sentence does not fill the public with a great deal of grief.

09.06.13

About-Face: The Troubled Launch of Ohio’s New Facial Recognition System

Nick Worner

In June 2013, The Ohio Attorney General’s office flipped the switch on a new facial recognition program that allows the government to compare anonymous snapshots to the state’s existing database of license photos and mug shots in order to look for a match.