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 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.