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.
The Latest
Ohio’s Problematic Private Prisons: A Primer
Should some people profit off others’ misfortune? At the ACLU of Ohio, we believe the answer is a resounding no. Sadly, we know profit comes into play at many levels of our criminal legal system, but the most notable is within the prison industry itself.
The Executive Order Loophole: Private Prisons and ICE
With the recent Executive Order, President Joe Biden has publicly declared the ending of private prison contracts with the federal government, in efforts to decrease mass incarceration rates. But, states still use private prisons and the order failed to include people without documentation.
ACLU of Ohio and OJPC Appeal Lower Court’s Decision to Dismiss Lawsuit Challenging ODRC Policy of Illegally Garnishing Prisoners’ Emergency Relief Checks in order to Pay Court Fees
Today the ACLU of Ohio and the OJPC filed an appeal in their lawsuit on behalf of incarcerated individuals whose COVID-19 emergency relief checks were garnished by ODRC.
Issue Areas:
Prisoners' Rights
ACLU of Ohio and OJPC Sue Ohio Parole Board for Denying Parole to Individuals Previously Sentenced to Death Whose Sentence Was Commuted to Life with the Possibility of Parole
Issue Areas:
Prisoners' Rights
Cases, Campaigns & Legislation
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.
Jul 22, 2021
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.
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