COVID-19 and Your Rights

At the ACLU of Alaska, we're listening to health experts, while working to safeguard your civil rights and liberties. The spread of COVID-19 is a crisis, and we understand it will take many of us working together to respond to this pandemic appropriately, effectively, and fairly. We are actively monitoring how the response to COVID-19 may impact your civil liberties, we know the future of our democracy depends on it.

We're providing guidance to our elected officials on crafting a response that protects the populations most vulnerable to harm, including working people, incarcerated individuals and others interacting with the criminal legal system, homeless, immigrants and those with disabilities. Here you'll stay up to date on the ACLU of Alaska's response to COVID-19, including news updates, guidelines, letters to public officials, as well as hotlines to report civil rights and liberty problems and/or concerns related to coronavirus.

What we believe

Any coronavirus response should be grounded in science and public health, and not be politicized
Any response plan must protect the health, safety, and civil liberties of all in the least restrictive way available
Public officials should act in alignment with public health guidance
State leaders should encourage voluntary compliance with self-isolation measures as much as possible
Leaders should pay particular attention to the most vulnerable people in our society
Restrictions on liberty must continually be re-evaluated to ensure they remain justified in light of scientific evidence as conditions evolve
Individuals should not have due process rights revoked for mandatory medical procedures, isolation or quarantine

Share your concerns

Has the response to COVID-19 impacted your civil rights and liberties? Do you know someone in custody at a jail or prison in Alaska with problems or concerns to safety, health, and civil liberties? Are you concerned about workplace conditions? Share them with us by emailing [email protected].

For polling access issues or concerns, email [email protected] or call 907-263-2010.

Using the drop-down list below, you can learn more about your rights during COVID-19. "We the people" means all of us.

Documents

Related Content

News & Commentary

Mar 19, 2020

ACLU of Alaska Finds Rapid Relief Needed to Reduce COVID-19 Risk in Dangerously Overcrowded, Understaffed Prisons Announces New Hotline to Report Conditions

ANCHORAGE —Alaska leaders should heed public health experts’ advice and immediately release individuals in detention who are at high risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19, and urgently implement a series of proactive measures to ensure the safety of those interacting with the criminal legal system during the pandemic, ACLU of Alaska Policy Director Triada Stampas wrote in a letter to Governor Michael Dunleavy and Chief Justice Joel Bolger. In order to quickly identify issues related to COVID-19, the ACLU of Alaska has launched a new hotline, [email protected], for Alaskans to report conditions in the criminal legal system that create heightened risk.

News & Commentary

Mar 18, 2020

ACLU of Alaska implements new work strategy, monitoring COVID-19 impacts

We're actively monitoring how COVID-19 and reactions to it may impact civil liberties. Every member of our team is dedicated to ensuring this work continues, we know our democracy depends on it.

News & Commentary

Mar 24, 2020

ACLU of Alaska urges Anchorage officials to protect civil liberties during COVID-19 response

The ACLU of Alaska offered guidance to Anchorage officials, as the Municipality takes restrictive measures to help combat the spread of COVID-19. Anyone with concerns or problems regarding these new measures should contact [email protected].

News & Commentary

Apr 15, 2020

Criminal Legal Reform

ACLU of Alaska attempts to work with DOC on COVID-19 response

The ACLU of Alaska is attempting to work with the Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC) to reduce the risk of spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 in state jails and prisons. In a letter sent to Department Commissioner Nancy Dahlstrom, the ACLU of Alaska details a series of necessary steps corrections officials must take to ensure the health and safety of some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.