The ACLU-WA participates in "impact litigation" designed to protect civil rights and civil liberties for large numbers of Washington residents.

Does NOT typically provide legal representation to individual complainants and is not a general legal services provider.

Through the Information and Referral Program (IRP), DOES provide:
- "Know your rights" and legal self-help literature
- Referrals to appropriate agencies and organizations

In some areas of ACLU emphasis, is able to provide limited advocacy or more specialized advice.

The ACLU is particularly active in the following issue areas:

-  Freedom of expression and freedom of religion
-  Police practices and accountability
-  Student rights, school discipline, and education issues
-  LGBTQ issues
-  Voting rights
- Houseless issues

Information and Referral Program offered by American Civil Liberties Union of Washington

Protects civil liberties by advocating for issues such as freedom of expression and religion, police accountability, student rights, LGBTQI issues, voting rights, and criminal barriers. Does not typically provide legal representation.

Programs that provide assistance for people who want to submit a petition requesting that the court order the official and formal sealing or erasure of records related to a particular criminal case maintained by police agencies at all levels, the prosecuting attorney's office, the office of the clerk of the court and/or agencies that are part of the criminal correctional system. Most jurisdictions have laws that permit, even mandate, the sealing or expungement of juvenile records as well as statutes that relate to adult records and the conditions under which they may be cleared.

Criminal Record Expungement Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who believe that they have been treated unfairly, denied health or mental health care services or benefits or have experienced delays in service provision based on their age, gender, family composition, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.

Health Care Discrimination Assistance

Programs that provide staff who promote agency coordination to improve resources available to juvenile or adult offenders, particularly those who have developmental or mental disabilities.

Offender Advocates

Programs that provide assistance for people who believe that they have been denied equal access to employment or that they have been treated unfairly as employees, i.e., that they were sexually harassed or denied equal pay for equal work, passed over for a promotion, denied training opportunities or fired on the basis of their age, gender, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. Also included are programs that provide assistance for job applicants who feel they have been denied employment because of a military service obligation or help restore job seniority and pension rights which have been withheld from military service personnel because of an absence from work due to a service obligation.

Employment Discrimination Assistance

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the quality of service, lack of competence, availability, unethical or improper conduct of peace officers or other law enforcement officials, or other problems with law enforcement agencies. Some programs also welcome and document compliments.

Law Enforcement Complaints

Programs that are responsible for protecting the individual's right to register and vote in all local, state and national elections. Services include accepting and resolving complaints regarding fraud, corruption or discrimination in voting registration, voting or the counting of votes; the location, hours, staffing or equipping of polling places; the drawing of voting precinct boundaries; and other problems in the election process which prevent individuals from exercising their right to vote.

Voting Rights Protection

Organizations that work to protect the rights of people guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and which promote the passage and enforcement of laws and other social measures that extend individual rights or more effectively protect them. These rights include constitutional guarantees, such as the right to bear arms, freedom of speech and freedom of the press, as well as civil rights which protect all citizens from discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender or national origin in the areas of voting, education, employment and housing; in the use of facilities and public accommodations; and in the administration of federally assisted or other public programs.

Constitutional/Civil Rights Groups

Programs that provide assistance for people who believe that they have been treated unfairly or denied normal privileges by a commercial establishment or other facility that serves the public based on their age, gender, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. Included are establishments that serve food and drink (e.g., restaurants, bars), places of lodging (e.g., inns, hotels, motels); gathering places (e.g., auditoriums, convention centers, lecture halls); entertainment venues (e.g., theaters, concert halls, sports stadiums); sales or rental establishments (shopping centers, grocery stores, video rental outlets); service establishments (e.g., laundromats, dry cleaners, banks, barber shops, beauty shops, travel services, shoe repair services, funeral parlors, gas stations, offices of accountants or lawyers, insurance offices); public transportation terminals; depots or stations; recreation/exercise establishments (e.g., parks, zoos, amusement parks, gymnasiums, health spas, bowling alleys, golf courses); and social service centers (e.g., child care centers, senior centers, homeless shelters, food banks/pantries, adoption agencies).

Customer Service Discrimination Assistance

Programs that provide information about specific legal problems and procedures that interested individuals can access on a website or in person, or by telephone, email, chat, text or other communication channel. Information may be in a self-serve, browsable format (for example a web resource directory or library of audio recordings) or provided by live agents with expertise in the field. Also included are legal aid services, bar associations and other programs that provide basic information about family law, landlord/tenant law, immigration law, consumer law, elder law, patient rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, the criminal justice system, the civil court system and other legal topics via workshops, classes, speaking engagements, printed materials, video tutorials, websites and other similar educational avenues.

Legal Information Services

Programs that provide immediate assistance for people who have witnessed, are experiencing or are affected by verbal, physical or social bullying, or cyberbullying. Included may be short-term emotional support, resources and community referrals, and steps to ensure the person's safety. The service is generally free and confidential and may offer peer support, particularly to youth. Helpline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.

Bullying Helplines

Programs that provide assistance for people who believe that they have been denied an opportunity to purchase, lease or rent the home or apartment of their choice due to their age, gender, family composition (including families with children under the age of 18 and pregnant individuals), race or color, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status, actions that are prohibited by the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the federal Fair Housing Act Amendments Act of 1988 in the U.S. Federal fair housing law also extends limited protection to recovering alcoholics who actively and regularly participate in a medically based treatment or AA program, and people with a drug use disorder including those who have prior convictions for illegal drug use (but not for drug dealing or manufacture). Assistance may also be available to other individuals who are protected from housing discrimination by state or local laws with a broader set of protected categories, or which cover properties that are exempt from federal fair housing laws but are protected under state law.

Housing Discrimination Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who believe they have been denied equal access to student loans or scholarships, or to educational programs at preschool, elementary, secondary, vocational, postsecondary, postgraduate or professional school levels based on their age, gender, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.

Education Discrimination Assistance

Programs that support laws and other social measures that protect citizens from invasion of privacy by the federal government or other governmental entities; or which prohibit organizations that have confidential information about an individual from sharing that information without the individual's informed consent.

Privacy Rights Groups

Operates a hotline focusing on Black, Black LGBTQI, Brown, Native, and Muslim community who have experienced harmful, physical, and inappropriate contact with police and vigilantes. 
Provides an anonymous and confidential avenue to report interactions and referrals to resources. Volunteers are trained to listen and affirm the experiences of anyone who may have experienced a negative interaction with law enforcement, consumer service (restaurants and stores), or vigilante contact. Volunteer opportunities are available.

BIPOC/LGBTQ+ Hotline offered by Call Blackline

Provides a hotline focusing on Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQ+ individuals who have experienced harmful, physical, and inappropriate contact with police and vigilantes.

Programs that provide immediate assistance for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,  
two-spirit or as part of other communities such as those in the process of coming out or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, and/or their friends and families. Included may be short-term emotional support, resources and community referrals. The service is generally free and confidential and may offer peer support. Helpline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.

Filters

Focus Population

Information and Referral Program offered by American Civil Liberties Union of Washington

BIPOC/LGBTQ+ Hotline offered by Call Blackline