Category «Civil Liberties»

Legal Guide to Student Voting

Brennan Center for Justice: “Tailored for college students, the Legal Guide to Student Voting is an easy-to-use clickable map designed to arm students with the correct information necessary to cut through confusing and misleading registration and voting laws. The Guide also dispells common myths about the registration process that can discourage student voters—particularly those living …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Government Documents

Felony Disenfranchisement Laws in the United States

The Sentencing Project, Felony Disenfranchisement Laws in the United States: “Since the founding of the country, most states in the U.S. have enacted laws disenfranchising convicted felons and ex-felons. In the last 30 years, due to the dramatic expansion of the criminal justice system, these laws have significantly affected the political voice of many American …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Government Documents, Legal Research

ACLU Voices Concerns About New New FBI Guidelines To Prevent Terror

New York Times: “The Justice Department made public on Friday a plan to expand the tools the Federal Bureau of Investigation can use to investigate suspicions of terrorism inside the United States, even without any direct evidence of wrongdoing. Justice Department officials said the plan, which is likely to be completed by the end of …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents, Legal Research

Fact Sheet: Justice Department Counter-Terrorism Efforts Since 9/11

DOJ Fact Sheet: Justice Department Counter-Terrorism Efforts Since 9/11, September 11, 2008 “Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the highest priority of the Justice Department has been to protect America against acts of terrorism. Despite repeated and sustained efforts by terrorists, there has not been another terrorist attack on American soil in the past …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents

Justice Department to Monitor Primary Elections in New York City

News release: “The Justice Department today announced that on Sept. 9, 2008, it will monitor the primary elections in New York (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), and Queens Counties, N.Y., to ensure compliance with federal voting rights statutes, and specifically the minority language provisions of the Voting Rights Act.” More information about the Voting Rights Act and …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

Justice Department Meets with Civil Rights Groups to Discuss Plans for Protecting Ballot Access

News release: “Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Grace Chung Becker, and other senior officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) met today with leaders of dozens of civil rights groups, as well as national organizations representing state and local officials, secretaries of state and attorneys general …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents

Federal Judge Orders DOJ To Turn Over Memos Authorizing Torture Or Justify Withholding Them

ACLU news release: “A federal judge [U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York] has ordered the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) to turn over three memos that authorized the extremely harsh treatment of prisoners in CIA custody or explain by October 3 why these memos can lawfully be withheld. The American Civil …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Courts, Freedom of Information, Legal Research

Civil Rights Complaints in U.S. District Courts, 1990-2006

Bureau of Justice Statistics: Civil Rights Complaints in U.S. District Courts, 1990 – 2006 “Examines civil rights claims based on race, age, sex, or national origin involving employment, welfare, housing, voting, or other civil rights discrimination issues. It covers civil rights claims litigated in federal district courts from 1990 to 2006. Information is presented on …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Courts, E-Government, Government Documents, Legal Research

CDT: Limits Needed On DHS Border Crossing and Driver Information Databases

CDT: “In comments filed with the Department of Homeland Security today, CDT highlighted privacy concerns implicated by DHS’ new system of databases to record personal information and border crossing history. CDT called on DHS to reduce the 15-year period for retaining records of the date, time and place an American re-enters the United States at …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, E-Records, Government Documents

UK Government Plans Massive Personal Data Collection Effort

Surveillance made easy, NewScientist.com news service, Laura Margottini: “This data allows investigators to identify suspects, examine their contacts, establish relationships between conspirators and place them in a specific location at a certain time.” So said the UK Home Office last week as it announced plans to give law-enforcement agencies, local councils and other public bodies …

Subjects: Blogs, Civil Liberties, E-Government, E-Mail, Privacy

CDT's Dempsey to Be Nominated to Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board

“President Bush…announced his intention to nominate CDT Vice President for Public Policy James X. Dempsey to serve a five year term on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, an independent agency within the executive branch that will review the civil liberties impact of anti-terrorism policies and programs, providing advice on policy development and implementation …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Government Documents