Criminal Justice

The rights guaranteed to the accused, defendants, offenders, and incarcerated are fundamental political rights that protect all Americans from governmental abuse of power. These rights include the guarantee against unreasonable search and seizure, the right to reasonable bail, the right to due process of law, and the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. They are indispensable to a free society.

The ACLU of South Carolina works to ensure that the state complies with the Constitution, state law, and international human rights principles. We are committed to ending the policies that have given the United States the highest incarceration rate in the world.

As part of our impact litigation strategy, we represent plaintiffs who have had their civil liberties infringed by South Carolina law enforcement agencies and correctional institutions.

Note: We are not able to accept or respond to requests for legal assistance. If you are looking for legal aid, please visit our Find Legal Help page.

We review every bill filed in the legislature and push back against bills that erode the rights of South Carolinians in their interactions with police.

We are proud to work in coalition with groups including the People's Budget Coalition who fight for effective public safety measures and alternatives to over-policing and incarceration.