News & Commentary

HB 487 perpetuates the failed (and very expensive) belief we can punish and incarcerate our way out of our drug problems. The ACLU of Ohio urges this committee’s rejection of House Bill 487.

The ACLU of Ohio believes that Ohio must never conduct another execution and leave capital punishment in the dustbin of history—whether by legislative repeal, executive clemency, or a combination of both. 

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.

The ACLU of Ohio advocates for a narrower version of HB 338 that directly addresses issues of serious prison violence instead of a kitchen sink bill that dilutes the focus on the stated goal of reducing that violence and, we believe, contains various changes that will prove to be counterproductive.

This map will result in some Ohioans’ votes weighing more than others, subjecting the people of Ohio to yet another setback in the pursuit of basic fairness in their representation.

SB 143 is an uncomplicated bill that recognizes two truths here in Ohio. One, lots of Ohioans have a criminal record. Two, those people often have a much more difficult time finding a job or even being considered for employment.

The ACLU of Ohio believes there are aspects of Amended House Bill 5 worthy of additional and thorough consideration so you, and all Ohioans, know the complete ramifications of its passage.

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.

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.