Critical Conversations with Bryan Stevenson: Local Organizations

"A two-year investigation by the ACLU of Southern California Jails Project reveals violent, abusive and unhealthy conditions in Orange County's jails system, and a record of denial and indifference by the officials in charge."

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) defends the fundamental rights outlined in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These include the right to freedom of speech and assembly, the right to religious freedom, due process of law, equality before the law and the right to privacy. The ACLU also relies on state constitutional provisions and federal and state laws that further these and similar rights.

"We believe that the death penalty is an ineffective, cruel, and simplistic response to the serious and complex problem of violent crime. It institutionalizes discrimination against the poor and people of color, diverts attention and financial resources away from preventative measures that would actually increase public safety, risks the execution of innocent people, and does not deter crime. It’s time to end this costly, failed system."

"By our actions, we seek to honor equity and justice in human relations, and to respect the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part by a strong, vibrant visitation program of undocumented detainees placed in detention centers of Orange County and a transfer program for asylum seekers."