ACLU Responds to Governor Carcieri's Executive Order

Last month Governor Carcieri signed into effect an Executive Order on Illegal Immigration.  It has raised concerns from many in the state, and has opened up the issue to debate for those on either side of the issue.  The ACLU has many concerns with this Executive Order and has prepared an analysis of the major points laid out in it.  To read the ACLU's analysis click here.

URGENT!  Help the "Gap Kids"!

At a special session in October, the General Assembly reversed itself and repealed the ill-conceived state budget provision (known as Article 22) it had enacted in June, treating 17-year-olds as adults in the court system, sending them to adult court and the ACI instead of Family Court and the Training School. 

Regrettably, however, the problem was not completely resolved. Due to vehement opposition from the Attorney General, the House refused to make the repeal retroactive. As a result, there are approximately 500 “gap kids” – juveniles who were arrested for offenses during the four months the law was in effect –who remain affected by the law. Unless further action is taken, these juveniles will have to acknowledge that they have a criminal record when applying for employment and will remain subject to adult parole and probation authorities if they were given suspended sentences.

The ACLU is working with other organizations to try to get the General Assembly to take further action when it reconvenes in January, and make the repeal fully retroactive. The RI ACLU urges you to call your state representative and urge him or her to make the repeal of Article 22 retroactive so that all judeniles are treated fairly! Go here to locate your state representative: http://www.sec.state.ri.us/vic/.  For more information on Article 22, click here.

---

Recent News Releases