Prisoners' Rights

Incarceration is perhaps the greatest deprivation of liberty that the government can impose on a person. It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that all people housed in prisons are treated humanely, given proper medical treatment, and are supported through rehabilitative and educational programming to ease re-entry into society once the person is released.

two men dressed in orange prison jumpsuits, behind bars

The ACLU of Ohio works to ensure that our state prisons, jails, and detention centers comply with the Constitution, domestic law, and human rights principles. Incarceration is perhaps the greatest deprivation of liberty that the government can impose on a person; but prisoners retain their rights to other basic protections and freedoms – among these are freedom from cruel and unusual punishment, freedom of religion, the right to legal representation, and the right to due process.

It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that all people housed in prisons are treated humanely, given proper medical treatment, and are supported through rehabilitative and educational programming to ease re-entry into society once the person is released.

The Latest

News & Commentary
ohio statehouse graphic with red podium and microphone

House Bill 31 – Proponent Testimony

HB 31 would expand Ohio’s public records laws to require recordings of full parole board hearings conducted by the Ohio Parole Board and to allow those recordings and transcriptions to be requested and received by the public.
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DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT

Thanks to a generous supporter, your donations to the ACLU of Ohio will be matched up to $100,000 through January 15th!
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ACLU of Ohio Voter Impact Fund

The ACLU of Ohio Voter Impact Fund was created to support our critical electoral work to ensure the ACLU of Ohio remains a trusted leader in protecting the rights and civil liberties of all Ohioans.
News & Commentary
statehouse with various issue posters

Lameduck 2024: Overview + Resources

Every even-year election, as lawmakers prepare for the next General Assembly, we enter the “Lameduck period,” taking place between Election Day and the start of the new session.
Court Case
Jul 28, 2021

Wernert, et al. v. Ohio Parole Board

In 1978 the US Supreme Court found Ohio's death penalty process unconstitutional. Individuals who had previously been sentenced to death were resentenced, often to life with the possibility of parole. The Ohio Parole Board has a practice of denying these people parole, regardless of circumstance.
Court Case
Dec 11, 2025

Brust v. Ohio Parole Board

The Ohio Parole Board’s policy of denying access to victim statements precludes meaningful consideration because it prevents individuals seeking parole from knowing about, rebutting, or responding to information that is being considered by the Board.
Court Case
May 01, 2021

Woodson v. ODRC

The garnishment of prisoners’ relief checks for debts other than child support, when all other Ohioans’ relief checks are treated are fully immune to non-child support garnishments, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Ohio Constitution.
Court Case
Jul 23, 2020

State ex rel. Licthenwalter v. Dewine (amicus)