The policies and actions of the police are instrumental in deciding who gets stopped, searched, arrested, and funneled into the criminal justice system; indeed, the United States’ overincarceration crisis begins at the front end of the system. Meanwhile, often under the guise of our failed drug war, abuse of civil asset forfeiture is rampant, while federal grant programs enable the increasing militarization of local police departments. The ACLU relies on various strategies to challenge a broad range of unjust police practices—including litigation against departments engaged in unconstitutional and counterproductive practices, as well as policy advocacy to win broader measures to hold public officials accountable. Ultimately, our efforts are intended to address the longstanding adversarial relationship between police and communities and to help create police departments that work collaboratively and democratically with all of the communities they serve, increasing transparency, accountability, fairness, and public safety.
Police Accountability
End Qualified Immunity in Vermont
December 15, 2021
Drewniak v. CBP
May 19, 2023John Chinnici v. Town of Bennington
January 23, 2023State v. Walker-Brazie and Lena-Butterfield
September 24, 2021
Doyle v. Burlington Police Department
October 23, 2018Alexander v. Hunt
August 9, 2018Zullo v. Vermont
February 13, 2018
The Latest

Community Oversight 101
February 16, 2023
Police accountability is a public safety issue
February 9, 2023
Bennington needs a meaningful police oversight board
June 6, 2022
Op-Ed: Law Enforcement Leaders Are Failing Vermont
February 28, 2022