ACLU-NCA opposes mandatory pretrial detention bill

On February 3, we opposed Bill 19-485, which would mandate pretrial detention or the use of an electronic monitoring device by any person accused of a crime involving a gun. We pointed out that the bill’s central purpose – removing from the courts the ability to tailor the conditions of pretrial release to fit the defendant – was at odds with the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of excessive bail.

ACLU-NCA Testifies on Draft Registration Bill

On November 29, ACLU-NCA Legal Director Arthur Spitzer testified on D.C. Council Bill 19-330, the "Access to Selective Service Registration Amendment Act of 2011," which would change the word "may" to "shall" in the sentence that currently provides: "Men between 18 and 25 years of age, may register with the Selective Service when they obtain or renew their driver's license."

ACLU testifies on proposed bullying bill

In May 2011, the ACLU-NCA submitted written testimony on Bill 19-11, the Bullying and Intimidation Prevention Act of 2011. 

While recognizing that "the problem of bullying, especially in the District’s schools, is real and pervasive," and supporting "the enactment of a statute that carefully defines the problem and requires the District’s public schools, public charter schools, and other government agencies to address it vigorously," we pointed out that this bill, like the bills introduced in the previous Council session, had a variety of serious problems, includingan overly broad definition of "bullying" and other provisions that would violate the First Amendmrnt.  We emphasized that the "primary goal of [a] bill should be to prevent bullying, not just to punish it after it occurs, and the only effective way to accomplish that is through education and training."  We therefore urged the Council to focus on education and training in this area, rather than punishent.

As of November 7, 2011, bill has not moved foward.

A copy of our testimony on the Bullying and Intimidation Prevention Act of 2011 is here.

Big Day at the DC Council

At the DC Council’s penultimate meeting of the year, on December 7, 2010, the Council acted on five bills of ACLU interest, including major revisions to the antiquated and often-abused Disorderly Conduct laws and to the inadequate Open Meetings law. The Council also enacted a new "Anti-SLAPP" law making it easier to dismiss abusive lawsuits against citizen-activists, and a new Returning Citizen Public Employment Inclusion law that prohibits the DC government from asking about criminal convictions on employment applications (although it can ask later in the hiring process). Click "Full Story" below for links to our testimony on these bills.