Oregon PDMP v. U.S. DEA

ACLU Files in Court to Protect Privacy of Drug Prescriptions

ACLU Challenging Government Efforts to Access Confidential Records Without a Warrant

January 25, 2013 - Portland - The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Oregon filed a complaint in court today challenging the federal Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) claim that it can access Oregonians' private prescription records in a state database without a warrant. In November, the State of Oregon sued the DEA in federal court to prevent the agency from circumventing a state law requiring a warrant for such access, and today the ACLU filed a motion to intervene in the case on behalf of several patients and a doctor whose prescription records are in the database.

ACLU Wants Driver License Access for All Oregonians

By Becky Straus, Legislative Director

We are pleased that today Governor Kitzhaber made the right call, directing the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to resume issuing driver licenses to young immigrants who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, but the announcement highlights a broader, urgent need to shift the conversation.

The time is long overdue for policy makers to de-link access to driver licenses with an applicant’s ability to prove lawful presence in the country and instead recognize that obtaining a driver license should be solely dependent upon road safety factors. Does the person know the rules of the road? Is that person insured?

Gasque v. City of Portland

Vindication in “Know Your Rights” Case

November 7, 2012 - Nearly three years to the day after he was arrested in Old Town in downtown Portland for refusing to consent to a Portland police officer’s request to search him without probable cause, Jose Gasque received justice in a Multnomah County courtroom.  

Late on the night of November 14, 2009, Jose Gasque and Mike Be Dell were enjoying the music and bar scene in Old Town Portland. In between establishments, Mr. Gasque and Mr. Be Dell stopped for a cigarette in what they thought was an alley between NW Couch and Burnside on the property of the abandoned Burger King. While Mr. Be Dell finished his cigarette and Mr. Gasque sat on a curb, a Portland police cruiser drove onto the property shining a light on the men. Officer Tequila Thurman asked the men for identification and what they were doing. Both men cooperated and the records check of their identification showed no outstanding warrants, arrests or convictions for either man.  

Portland Police Draft Revisions to Use of Force Policies, Release Settlement with DOJ

UPDATE - The City of Portland, PPB, and USDOJ have reached agreement on the terms of their settlement. The ACLU has reviewed this agreement and presented testimony at the City Council hearing on November 1.

October 25, 2012 - Prompted by a condemning report by the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), which found that the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has engaged in systemic overuse of force particularly against persons with mental illness, PPB drafted revisions to its policies on Use of Force, Use of Deadly Force, and Tasers. PPB posted these drafts for comment and the ACLU of Oregon has responded with detailed recommendations for improvement.

ACLU and Allies Weigh in on DOJ Investigation of Portland Police Bureau

September 27, 2012 - The ACLU of Oregon and our allies in police accountability advocacy submitted detailed recommendations to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), urging comprehensive reforms to the policies and practices of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). The recommendations were compiled in response to a September 12th report from DOJ, concluding that PPB employs unnecessary and excessive use of force on persons with mental illness. DOJ invited members of the community to provide input as to the terms of an agreement between DOJ and the City of Portland regarding reforms the PPB will undertake. The stated deadline for finalizing the agreement is October 12th.

ACLU Challenges Multnomah County Sheriff's Office for Unlawful Imprisonment

September 5, 2012 - The ACLU Foundation of Oregon filed a lawsuit today against the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office for unlawfully detaining a Portland resident at the request of federal immigration officers despite a judge’s order releasing him on his state charges.

The ACLU’s lawsuit claims the Sheriff’s detention policy on immigration-related requests violates Oregon law – which prohibits the use of state and local resources to detain people suspected only of violating civil immigration restrictions – and the Oregon Constitution.

“The reason that Oregon law prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies from doing the job of federal immigration agents is that it promotes public safety,” said David Fidanque, Executive Director of the ACLU of Oregon. “Local police need everyone who is a victim of crime or a witness to feel safe coming forward if our communities are going to be safe places to live. If immigrants think that calling police will mean they will be thrown in jail until they can prove they are in the country lawfully, they won’t report crimes.”