News & Commentary

All across Texas, the novel coronavirus is revealing, or at least reminding us, of how broken our state’s criminal legal system is.

Most public health experts have agreed that staying at home and minimizing contact with other people are two important ways we can all help stem the spread of COVID-19.

With everything that is happening in the world right now — you know, like a global pandemic — it might be hard to see the glass as half full. Everyone has had to adjust their lives just three months into the new decade; and folks, it’s been difficult.  

The world today is full of uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic weighing on people's minds. Across the U.S., people are panic shopping for toilet paper and understanding the need for social distancing.

Ashoka Mukpo, Staff Reporter, ACLU

Since the Tru

We are living through unusual times. The daily news surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some anxiety around still-unanswered questions, and many cities in Texas are issuing stay-at-home orders. So, what now?

This is a piece about the more than 60,000 people in jails across Texas, the people who work inside the jails as well as courtrooms and police stations, and what we can do to save lives in our community. 

Shaw Drake, He/Him/His, Staff Attorney and Policy Counsel, Border and Immigrants’ Rights, ACLU of Texas

We know that all Texans are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus cases in our state and across the country. This situation requires a large-scale response from state and local leaders. We’re counting on them to protect the health and safety of all Texans, and our rights and civil liberties. We sent the below letter to Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, and the mayors of Texas’ ten largest cities, urging that civil rights and civil liberties not take a backseat as we respond to this situation.