HARRISBURG - Today, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied an emergency request asking for a reduction in county jail populations filed by the ACLU of Pennsylvania on behalf of the Pennsylvania Prison Society and five people detained in county jails across the commonwealth.

HARRISBURG — Today, three criminal legal reform groups issued a statement in response to Governor Tom Wolf’s failure to use his powers of reprieve to reduce the populations of Pennsylvania’s state prisons to lower the risk of the spread of COVID-19.

HARRISBURG - A federal court in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, ruled today that federal immigration authorities must immediately release the ten people who sued for their release and who remain in detention in three county facilities in the commonwealth.

HARRISBURG — The ACLU of Pennsylvania filed an emergency request asking the state Supreme Court to use its “King’s Bench” power to protect public health by ordering county common pleas courts to release some people from county jails.

HARRISBURG - Legislation delaying the Pennsylvania primary election scheduled for April 28 until June 2 passed the state General Assembly today and is expected to be signed by Governor Tom Wolf.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Thirteen people who are currently held in immigration detention in jails in three Pennsylvania counties have filed a federal constitutional lawsuit asking for their immediate release because they are at high risk for severe illness if they contract coronavirus while incarcerated.

Today, the ACLU of Pennsylvania filed a complaint on behalf of 15 residents of Montgomery County, alleging that the Montgomery County Commissioners committed more than a dozen violations of the Sunshine Act by firing top public defenders Dean Beer and Keisha Hudson.

HARRISBURG — The ACLU of Pennsylvania sent a letter to Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine on Friday, urging the department to issue guidance to all stakeholders in the criminal legal system regarding the coronavirus pandemic. 

After reviewing docket data from the Philadelphia courts that revealed the continued use of cash bail during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACLU of Pennsylvania sent a letter to the First Judicial District today, urging the immediate end to the use of cash bail during the ongoing public health crisis.