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HOW THE ACLU OF OKLAHOMA ACCEPTS CASES
The ACLU of Oklahoma receives over 2,000 requests
for assistance every year. Due to this extremely high volume
of intake, all complaints must be received in writing. The
preferred format is a one-to-three page narrative that explains the
problem, the parties involved and what documentation exists to
support the complaint.
Items submitted for consideration become property of the ACLU of
Oklahoma, and they will not be returned. Furthermore, this
material is treated as confidential information protected by the
attorney-client privilege. Since complaints are confidential,
they should not be sent via the relatively unsecured method of
e-mail. Complaints should be directed to the following postal
address:
ACLU Oklahoma
3000 Paseo Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Full review of complaints requires between two and six weeks.
If a matter is accepted for action by the ACLU or if more
information must gathered, the staff will contact the complainant.
The ACLU of Oklahoma has limited use of attorney work hours and
cannot give legal advice. The office does not provide attorney
referrals when requests for assistance are not granted.
In ACLU cases, the attorneys represent clients free of charge.
If the client is unable to afford filing fees or other court-related
costs, the ACLU will pay these expenses.
The ACLU handles cases that make a difference for large groups of
people. Criteria for acceptance include consideration of
whether a significant civil liberties interest is at stake, what
impact can be realized for the public interest and whether existing
resources allow for a case to be handled effectively.
The ACLU of Oklahoma does not usually assist with the following
types of situations:
Cases not involving abuse of individual rights by an entity of
local, state or federal government
Cases that seek damages without standing to obtain prospective
declaratory or injunctive relief
Cases involving post-conviction relief
Cases based on the actions of private companies or individuals who
do not perform governmental functions
Cases involving clients who are already represented by a lawyer
Cases involving the denial of benefits such as workers compensation,
unemployment or Social Security
Cases of child custody, divorce or other family matters that do not
involve violation of equal protection, privacy or due process rights
by the government
Criminal defense cases in which the charge is not based on
constitutionally protected activity
Complaints about the performance of an attorney.
The ACLU of Oklahoma seeks to preserve individual liberty guaranteed
by the Bill of Rights against the power of government. These
rights include religious liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of the
press, freedom to petition the government, freedom of assembly,
freedom of association, freedom from unreasonable search/seizure,
freedom from cruel/unusual punishment, the right to privacy, the
right to due process of law, the right to jury trial, the right to
legal counsel and the right to equal protection under the law.
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