Click here to download the ACLU-EM complaint form
Please note that we cannot accept complaints via email or fax.
If you feel that your civil liberties have been violated and would like to file a complaint, please read the following guidelines:
The ACLU of Eastern Missouri (ACLU-EM) is a nonprofit public interest organization devoted to protecting and promoting civil liberties principles including freedom of speech and religion, and the rights to equality, privacy and due process of law. The St. Louis office serves the eastern half of Missouri.
Unfortunately we cannot offer general legal advice or provide assistance in criminal defense matters or post-conviction appeals, civil disputes, tax problems, consumer complaints, appeals of building code violation, or complaints against lawyers or judges.
To File A Complaint
ACLU-EM receives approximately 100 complaints each week. In order to accommodate this volume and ensure efficient assistance, we ask that you follow these guidelines:
Contacting The ACLU-EM
To obtain information or ask for assistance, contact us by phone or letter. Unfortunately, the ACLU cannot accept complaints via email. If you cannot write to us due to a disability, please call us to let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.
By Phone
Complaint counselors take calls on a varying schedule at (314) 652-3111 and can provide an initial idea of whether the ACLU can help you. Please review the seven criteria below, prior to calling, and be prepared to give this information to the complaint counselor. In many instances, we may be able to provide general guidance and information over the phone. However, if your complaint raises issues that the ACLU wants to review, we will ask you to mail a letter detailing your complaint with supporting documentation. If the ACLU-EM cannot provide direct assistance to you, the complaint counselor will try to refer you to another organization or agency that can. We regret that the ACLU cannot accept collect calls.
By Mail
You can complete our complaint form or write us a letter, addressing all seven criteria below, that gives a succinct chronological account of your difficulty, with an emphasis on the facts of the situation. Be sure to include copies of any important and relevant documents. NEVER SEND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. If you wish to include copies of letters or documents either to or from other sources, please make sure that you have included a written statement explaining how the letters or documents are important. Click here to download the ACLU-EM complaint form. Mail this information to us at:
American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri
Legal Intake Department
454 Whittier Street
St. Louis, MO 63108
We're sorry but we do not accept complaints via email or fax. We answer every letter addressed to the ACLU that requests assistance. Depending on how urgent your matter is, we will let you know whether we can help you within 4 to 6 weeks. If we are unable to assist you, we will try to refer you elsewhere for help.
SEVEN CRITERIA
In order to process any complaint, the ACLU-EM needs the following information:
- Describe in your own words what happened to you. Include dates, places and the names of the people directly involved.
- How were your rights violated?
- What explanation, if any, was given for what happened?
- Why do you think this happened to you?
- What steps have you taken to solve the problem (e.g.; filed an appeal or complaint with the parties involved or with any public agency or official, or any other organization?) Whom did you go to and where does the matter stand?
- What documentation do you have on the matter?
- If you have consulted an attorney on this matter, and they believe there is a significant civil liberties issue involved, please have them contact us directly. Legal ethics require that we speak directly with your attorney if you are represented by a lawyer in your case.
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