
Criminal Justice
The ACLU of Florida seeks an end to policies within the criminal justice system that cause widespread violation of constitutional and human rights and also lead to unprecedented levels of incarceration. The state of Florida currently incarcerates over 100,000 people, more than the population of the city of Clearwater.
Additionally, in spite of the fact that the death penalty is discriminatory, arbitrary and inherently violates the Constitutional ban against cruel and unusual punishment, and the fact that Florida leads the nation in the number of exonerations from death row, Florida continues to practice the death penalty.
Between the failed death penalty system, overly-harsh mandatory minimum sentencing, lengthy prison terms for drug possession, over-incarceration of non-violent offenders and zero-tolerance school policies, our criminal justice system is in need of reform. The ACLU of Florida is working with lawmakers and policy leaders and community organizers across the state to rethink and reform Florida’s wasteful, ineffective criminal justice system.
Phoebe Flanagan v. State of Florida
February 19, 2019Knight v. Florida
October 24, 2017
Rodriguez v. Hague
September 27, 2017
The Latest


Remembering Martin Luther King Jr., the Organizer
January 20, 2019
Senate: Pass criminal justice reforms

Federal Lawsuit Challenges Florida Sheriff Over ICE Collaboration
December 3, 2018
The 2018 Midterm Elections Were a Big Win for Criminal Justice...
November 9, 2018
The Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Agenda for the New Congress
November 9, 2018
ACLU of Florida Statement on Amendment 6 and 11
November 7, 2018
ACLU of Florida Statement Celebrating Passage of Amendment 4
November 7, 2018