Contents
Civil Liberties Union Accepts Cases
The NHCLU requires a written request
in order to consider providing assistance.
(See below for link to the Intake Questionnaire)
Please read the following information carefully to learn the types of complaints that we consider. If we require additional information, we will contact you. Once your Intake Questionnaire is received you will be notified as soon as possible if we are able to provide assistance. There may be some delay due to the overwhelming number of requests that we receive.
HOW DOES THE NHCLU MAKE THESE DECISIONS?
The NHCLU accepts requests for assistance that affect the civil liberties of individuals. The basic questions that we must consider are:
- Does the case raise a fundamental civil liberties issue?
- Does the issue raised affect a substantial number of people?
- Is the government involved in the violation of civil liberties?
- Do we have the necessary resources to effectively pursue this case?
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY CIVIL LIBERTIES?
Examples of the civil liberties we seek to protect include:
Freedom of Speech and of the Press
- A student who is suspended for writing a newspaper article critical of the principal.
- A police officer who is disciplined for speaking out against police brutality.
- An organization that is assessed a fee for police protection when it applies for a permit to demonstrate.
Freedom of Religion
- A student is denied the right to say grace before meals in the cafeteria.
- A Muslim woman is denied the right to wear religious garb at her workplace.
- Attendees at a public meeting are forced to stand and recite the Lord’s Prayer.
Privacy
- The government intercepts your e-mail messages without your consent.
- Public school students are forced to submit their belongings to drug-sniffing dogs.
- The police enter and search a home even when the residents refuse them entry.
Equal Protection/Discrimination
- A sheriff’s department refuses to hire women deputies.
- A town refuses to permit homeless people to vote because they have no fixed addresses.
- An election official refuses to permit students or minority residents to register and vote on Election Day.
Due Process
- A student is suspended from school and denied a hearing.
- A group is denied a permit to demonstrate by the police and there is no process of appeal.
- A resident is denied access to material under the state right-to-know law and no appeal is provided.
WHAT TYPES OF CASES DOES THE
NHCLU GENERALLY NOT ACCEPT?
- Criminal Cases: in very rare instances the NHCLU may defend an individual criminally prosecuted for engaging in constitutionally protected activities, such as participation in a political demonstration.
- Divorce, child custody or support cases.
- Civil disputes between private individuals.
- Employment disputes including dismissal, workman’s compensation or employment benefits.
The NHCLU is unable to give you advice about your case or to provide other types of assistance if we do not accept your case. For example; reviewing your papers or conducting legal research on your behalf. This policy allows us to direct the necessary resources to those cases that we do accept. We are also unable to advise you of the deadlines in your case. To protect your rights, please consult with an attorney promptly to find out what case deadlines apply to you.
We can not guarantee confidentiality over the web or by fax. Therefore, only complaints by mail or by telephone will be accepted.
For other legal resources in New Hampshire go to Related Links.