Issues

Standing with Communities

The increasing diversity of America is occurring alongside persistent, systemic racism and increasingly visible xenophobia.

As the Constitution’s promise of equal justice is broken or ignored by those who have vowed to uphold it, we must stand strong against attacks on the right to vote, to protest, and to live without fear of oppression or abuse.

The MacArthur Justice Center uses the US legal system to work with and for communities affected by institutional racism and oppression.

Voting Rights

The MacArthur Justice Center works to defend the fundamental right to vote and the fairness of our elections. The ballot box is the foundation of our democracy and the ultimate safeguard against the violations of other constitutional rights.

Immigrants’ Rights

Despite America’s diversity, governmental policies and practices continue to target the fundamental rights of our growing immigrant communities. From the expansion of the U.S. Department of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the implementation President Trump’s Muslim Ban, immigrant communities are facing new and growing hostility from those in positions of power.

Right to Protest

At the heart of every fight for justice, there have always been brave individuals who have been willing to stand in opposition and demand change.

Ending the Punishment of Poverty

America’s criminal justice system targets the poor, who face an outsized risk of being fined, arrested and incarcerated for even minor offenses.

Once ensnared by the criminal justice system, people who cannot afford to pay for their freedom remain trapped behind bars, separated from family, jobs and communities.

We represent those directly harmed by these discriminatory practices and go to court to demand accountability and reform.

Advocating for the Rights of the Incarcerated

The United States incarcerates far more people than any other country in the world: with only five percent of the total world population, the United States accounts for 25 percent of all people behind bars. On any given day, some seven million Americans are either locked up, on probation, or on parole.

A culture of punishment, combined with a history of racism and oppression, has built a system of prisons and jails where people face illness, harassment, torture and even death.

We file suits on behalf of people in prison who have been denied their fundamental, constitutional rights. We advocate, whenever possible, for real, systemic change for those living behind bars.

Holding Police and Prosecutors Accountable

The decisions made each day by police and prosecutors shape our trust in the justice system itself. Whether by design or by disregard, whether by formal policy or unwritten custom, the power to warp or uphold justice is immense.

The MacArthur Justice Center pursues legal action against police and prosecutors when their policies and practices harm the communities they are sworn to serve.