ACLU of ohio Archives

An illustration shows the back of a Black man looking up at a tall building, the Cuyahoga County Justice Center. In front of the building is a panel of three portraits, representing a roulette of judges.

Cuyahoga County Judges Vowed to Reform the Bail System. Here’s What Happened.

By Rachel Dissell & Ilica Mahajan ● Social Equity ● September 11, 2023

Court officials informally changed their bail-setting practices for felony cases. Now, fewer people have to pay to get out of jail, a Marshall Project analysis shows.

Latest in ACLU of ohio

How a wealthy suburb profits from ticketing Black drivers

By Mark Puente, Stan Donaldson Jr. & Cid Standifer ● Social Equity ● November 21, 2022

Bratenahl has assessed more than $700,000 in fines, court costs and other revenue since 2020, mostly from Black Clevelanders who drove through the village’s jurisdiction.

Cleveland voter advocacy groups get access to jails for first time in years, push for clear policies

By Collin Cunningham ● Civic Engagement ● October 19, 2022

Cleveland’s principal voter advocacy group, Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates, gained approval in mid-September to canvass cell blocks and help inmates register to vote and request mail-in ballots. The pandemic, jail staff shortages, and the lack of a clear policy governing advocate access meant this was the first time NOVA entered the jail since 2018.

Could Bratenahl’s mayor’s court be violating defendants’ constitutional rights? Some experts say yes.

By Caitlin Johnson ● Government ● August 19, 2020

In 2013, state lawmakers clearly targeted Linndale – Northeast Ohio’s most notorious speed-trap – when they abolished mayor’s courts in municipalities with populations under 200. Linndale is not an affluent community. Nearly half the residents live below the poverty line and the median income is just over $30,000.

Bratenahl declared racism a public health crisis, now it should stop over-policing its neighbors and reform the mayor’s court

By Caitlin Johnson ● Government ● August 4, 2020

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the Black Lives Matter protests that have rocked our cities and small towns, the village of Bratenahl recently sponsored a resolution calling on Congress and the state legislature to “ensure Black Americans have equal protections under the law” and declare racism a public health crisis.