Our criminal justice system should keep communities safe and treat people fairly, regardless of the color of their skin or the size of their bank account. And in order for our system to do a good job, it must be cost-effective by using our taxpayer dollars and public resources wisely.
[hr] It’s time to improve our criminal justice system: On the front end, by reducing the number of people who needlessly enter prison in the first place; On the back end, by shrinking the existing prison population by allowing prisoners who have proven they are ready to re-enter society the opportunity to transition out of confinement; and And in the meantime, by investing in alternative solutions that are more effective than lengthy sentences. Many state governments have already begun to improve their criminal justice systems by shrinking their prison populations. It’s time we do the same -- in the interest of public safety, fiscal responsibility and fairness. [hr]THE DEATH PENALTY
The American Civil Liberties Union believes the death penalty inherently violates the constitutional ban against cruel and unusual punishment and the guarantees of due process of law and of equal protection under the law. Furthermore, we hold that the state should not arrogate unto itself the right to kill human beings – especially when it kills with premeditation and ceremony, in the name of the law or in the name of its people, or when it does so in an arbitrary and discriminatory fashion. The ACLU of Idaho works to oppose the death penalty in Idaho through legislative advocacy, community organizing and community education.[button link="/issues/criminal-justice/deathpenalty/" bg_color="#024073" border="#165788"]Learn More »[/button] [hr]
INDIGENT DEFENSE
The State of Idaho fails to provide the level of representation required by our Constitution for those who cannot afford counsel in its criminal and juvenile courts.That is not just the ACLU of Idaho’s opinion—it is the finding of an independent study authorized by Idaho’s governor-appointed Criminal Justice Commission.
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PRISONERS' RIGHTS
The ACLU of Idaho closely monitors conditions in Idaho’s county jails, state prisons run by the Idaho Department of Corrections, and the privately-operated, for-profit Idaho Correctional Center, run by the Corrections Corporation of America.[button link="/issues/criminal-justice/prisoners-rights/" bg_color="#024073" border="#165788"]Learn More »[/button]