Legislative advocacy is a critical part of the NYCLU's interdisciplinary approach to protecting civil liberties, which also includes litigation, community organizing, and communications.
As part of its work to affect legislation the NYCLU distributes dozens of legislative memoranda each year. Legislative memoranda are position papers that the NYCLU distributes to the governor's office and to state legislators and their staffs laying out our views on bills under deliberation or on issues that we feel the Legislature needs to address.
The ability to control our reproductive lives – including the ability to end a pregnancy – is a cornerstone of women’s health care and equality. From partially decriminalizing abortion in 1970, three years before Roe v.
Current law allows anyone to report a family to the SCR completely anonymously. As a result, little prevents people from abusing the SCR system to threaten and harass parents and their children.
During New York Criminal Court arraignment – the first appearance on a case – judges issue full temporary orders of protection (TOPs) as a matter of course on nearly every case if there is a complainant.
The detention of immigrants for civil immigration violations is a national disgrace. Across the country, tens of thousands of people who have come to the United States fleeing persecution or seeking a better life for their families are held in county jails and federal detention facilities.
It is imperative that all young people have access to health care when they need it. Involving parents and guardians in a young person’s health care decisions is ideal. At the same time, not all young people have healthy, safe family relationships.
It is imperative that all young people have access to health care when they need it. Unfortunately, under New York state law, most homeless and runaway youth are unable to access any health care at all unless or until their condition becomes critical.