Smart Justice

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The ACLU’s Campaign for Smart Justice has played a leading role in building an unprecedented nationwide movement to end mass incarceration.

Prioritizing public safety is important to ensure the health and well-being of everyone. We all deserve to be safe, regardless of where we live, how we look, or who we are. People across the political spectrum agree that the reliance on punishment and incarceration isn’t working – and believe it’s time for a new approach that is evidence-based, fair and works for all of us.

We can improve public safety by:

  • Focusing on prevention rather than punishment;
  • Addressing the root causes of crime, like poverty and lack of opportunity;
  • Investing in proven solutions like mental health and addiction services, community violence intervention, housing, healthcare, jobs, and schools.

RECENT ACTIONS

The Latest

Press Release
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Advocates Blast Last-Minute Provisions on Lombardo’s Incarceration Bill

Press Release
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Dozens of Organizations Join to Oppose Another Misleading Traffic Camera Bill at 2025 Legislature

Press Release
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New Civil Rights Complaint Filed Against Las Vegas Marshals

Violent traffic stop underscores unconstitutional enforcement actions by the municipal agency
Issue Areas: Smart Justice
News & Commentary
Nevada State Senate

Lombardo seeks to turn back time on criminal justice reforms

Legislation touted Tuesday by Gov. Joe Lombardo and law enforcement officials from Northern Nevada would turn back the clock on modest reforms passed by lawmakers with bipartisan support in 2019.
Court Case
Jul 09, 2025

ACLU of Nevada v. LVMPD

We are suing the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to get public records about the full extent of its involvement with federal immigration enforcement.
Court Case
Mar 27, 2024

Flynn v. Nevada

Our client is a prisoner at Florence McClure Women's Correctional Facility in Southern Nevada. She was sexually abused by a prison chaplain, Donald Burse, on two separate occasions in August 2020. While Burse was fired after the abuse came to light, and there is a pending criminal case, we are taking on this case because we believe that the Nevada Department of Corrections has not done enough to make sure that such abuse will not happen again in the future.
Court Case
Jan 12, 2024

Jones v. LVMPD

The Clark County Detention Center (CCDC) is the largest jail in Nevada, housing thousands of people every year. The ACLU of Nevada has been investigating the treatment of people who are deaf and detained at the Detention Center since April 2021. Based on our investigation, we have determined that the Clark County Detention Center regularly denies basic aids and services to deaf people, including sign language, interpreters, videophones, and visual aids. These services are denied for even the most important communication needs, such as classes meant to rehabilitate prisoners, medical appointments, religious services, and even fire alarms. Failure to provide these services functionally places deaf people detained at CCDC in solitary confinement, unable to communicate with staff, other people who are detained, and anyone outside the facility. Based upon records we've received through public records requests, we know the Detention Center is aware it must offer these services, but still fails to do so. Mr. Jones, our client, is a deaf person who has spent over two years in CCDC. Again and again, he requested the services he is entitled to under federal law, and again and again, he was denied, rendering him unable to participate in group therapy, religious services, or other rehabilitative opportunities. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the United States Constitution, and the Nevada Constitution, the Detention Center is obligated to comply and offer appropriate aids and services to deaf people detained at the facility. Together, we are working to make sure he, nor any other person who is deaf and detained in jail, is treated that way again
Court Case
May 30, 2023

Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners v. Valentine

In this joint filing by the ACLU of Nevada and Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice, we argue that the state can't make it harder for people working toward rehabilitation to reenter society by imposing excessive fines and fees if they are already meeting the requirements of their parole. The Nevada Division of Parole and Probation recommends early discharge from parole if a supervised person meets all the conditions in state law. One condition requires the person to be current with the supervision fees required by probation or parole. A Clark County Court found that the subject of this case, Valentine, fulfilled this condition and had proven he experienced economic hardship and was eligible for relief. On appeal, the state claims that Valentine was ineligible for early discharge because he had not paid off the entire balance of supervision fees. No one disputes that Valentine paid his fees on time, but the parole agency diverted those payments to cover his outstanding restitution balance instead. In the amicus brief, we pointed out that: State law only requires a person to be current with supervision fee payments, not that they are paid them off in full. The Division of Parole and Probation has no legal basis to transfer a person's supervision fees to restitution. There was no court order and no statute authorizing the agency to do it.