Please read the information below about how the ACLU of Missouri accepts cases before submitting a complaint. 

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Will I receive a response?

You should not expect to receive a response. However, if we think we may be able to assist with your case or need to request additional information, we will reach out. Please do not wait for a response from the ACLU of Missouri before exploring other assistance, especially if there are deadlines that may apply in your case.

How do I file a legal complaint with the ACLU of Missouri

The ACLU of Missouri does not accept requests for advocacy assistance in person or by phone. If you leave a voicemail asking for advocacy assistance or to discuss your case, we will not be able to return your call. 

If you would like to request assistance from the ACLU of Missouri, you must complete and submit a assistance request form. You can submit a complaint either online or by mail to: ACLU of Missouri Advocacy Assistance; 906 Olive St. Suite 1130; St. Louis, Missouri 63101. 

Can the ACLU of Missouri advise me about my case?

No, we cannot provide any legal advice about your case if we have not accepted your case and have an active retainer agreement with you. Someone from the ACLU of Missouri and you or your representative would have to sign this agreement for it to be effective.  

What cases does the ACLU of Missouri accept?

The ACLU of Missouri is a private, non-profit organization with limited resources; therefore, we must be very selective in choosing our cases. Our cases focus primarily on state and federal constitutional issues. We receive thousands of complaints each year and we can accept only a small percentage for representation. See below for a list of cases we do not typically take. 

Additionally, the ACLU of Missouri focuses on impact litigation, or cases in which a favorable result would have an impact beyond a single situation and would change a pattern or practice for future individuals in similar situations. This means that we are unable to assist in many cases, even if you might have a strong claim.

What types of cases does the ACLU of Missouri not accept?

  • Generally, the ACLU does not accept the following types of cases: family law, denial of governmental benefits, landlord-tenant disputes, criminal defense, complaints about attorneys or judges, or employment matters. 
  • The ACLU does not ordinarily handle cases in which the primary purpose or motivation is to obtain monetary damages. 
  • We generally do not accept third party complaints for adults, meaning the complaint needs to be filed by the person directly impacted by the issue.  
  • The ACLU of Missouri is limited to addressing constitutional violations that occurred within the State of Missouri, and therefore we do not accept cases where the harm has occurred outside of the state. 
  • While we continue to support better immigration policy in Missouri, we unfortunately do not handle individual immigration cases, such as ICE detainer cases. You may find an immigration attorney here.  
  • The ACLU does not handle complaints about lawyers. You should speak to the judge in your case about such a complaint. If your lawyer is a public defender, you can also write to the head of the public defender office in your area. If you wish to file a formal bar complaint against your lawyer, you should direct such complaints to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, PO Box 119, 326 Monroe St. Jefferson City, MO 65102-0119, online, or (573)-635-7400.   
  • The ACLU does not represent defendants in individual criminal matters, specifically in trials, sentencing proceedings or modification filings, direct appeals, or post-conviction remedies. 

Important note about deadlines

Almost all legal claims have time deadlines. For some, you may need to file a claim with a government agency before you can sue, and these agencies usually have their own deadlines for filing that must be complied with or a claim is waived. The ACLU of Missouri cannot advise you about the deadlines that apply to your case. To protect your rights, please consult with an attorney or the appropriate government entity promptly to find out what deadlines apply in your case.  

Where else can I go for help?

  • You may seek legal advice and assistance from a private lawyer with experience handling your issues. You may be able to find such lawyers on here and other similar websites. In addition, you may also contact the Missouri Bar Association's lawyer referral service.  
  • If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, you could contact the legal aid office that covers your county or city, but understand they also have a limited scope of cases for which they can provide representation. You can locate the appropriate office by visiting Missouri Legal Services.  
  • If you have an employment discimination complaint and wish to bring such a claim, you must file a charge of discrimination with either the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or, if you worked in Missouri, the Missouri Human Rights Commission (MHRC). To protect yourself, you should file a charge of discrimination with one of those agencies within 180 days of the last act of discrimination. If you fail to file a timely charge of discrimination, any lawsuit you file might be dismissed. To file a charge of discrimination, you may contact the EEOC’s National Contact Center toll-free at 1-800-669-4000 or 1-800-669-6820 (TTY). You may also write the EEOC Missouri Department of Labor Office at Equal Opportunity Officer Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations PO Box 510 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0510 or by phone at (573) 751-1339. Contact the MHRC at (573) 751-3325 or online.  
  • If you are represented by a union, it is advisable to initially speak to your union representative. You can also contact the Missouri Bar for an employment lawyer. 
  • If you have a complaint about law enforcement conduct, you may be able to file a complaint with the head of the involved law enforcement agency or its Internal Affairs Dept. If you believe you were a victim of racial profiling and discrimination, you may consider filing a complaint through the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. You may also wish to seek representation by a lawyer with experience in police misconduct cases. You may be able to find such lawyers here or with the Missouri Bar Association here. 
  • If you have a complaint about an individual incident of discrimination in health care, you may file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, many hospital systems have their own internal reporting avenue. 
  • If you have a complaint related to an individual criminal matter, please be advised that the ACLU does not represent criminal defendants in trials, sentencing proceedings or modification filings, direct appeals, post-conviction remedies such as habeas corpus or 1507 proceedings, parole hearings, or probation or parole revocation proceedings. You are entitled to an appointed lawyer at trial and on your first direct appeal if you are indigent and cannot afford a lawyer. You should ask the court to appoint a lawyer to represent you. If the court will not appoint a lawyer for you, you should try to find a private lawyer to assist you. You can find criminal defense lawyers at the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers or with the Missouri Bar Association. If you are seeking to bring a challenge based on your claims of innocence, you may consider submitting an application to the Midwest Innocence Project. You may be able to get free assistance with an expungement with Missouri Legal Services. 
  • If you have a complaint related to conditions or treatment inside of a prison, jail, or other facility, please ensure you or the affected person/s exhausts all internal remedies and to save all responses you receive. Any claim you would try to bring later would depend on you exhausting all internal grievance procedures, such as filing grievances, appealing decisions or disciplinary actions, and submitting form-9 or other requests for remedies you are seeking.   
  • If you have a complaint related to sexual assault inside of a prison or other facility,please know that you do have the right to be free from rape and sexual assault while incarcerated. The Prison Rape Elimination Act, passed by Congress in 2003, applies to all detention facilities, including federal and state prisons, jails, police lock-ups, private facilities, and immigration detention centers, and specifically recognizes that sexual assault in detention can constitute a violation of the Eighth Amendment. The Prison Rape Elimination Act requires that facilities adopt a zero-tolerance approach to this form of abuse. The failure to protect prisoners from sexual assault by other inmates may also amount to a violation of the Eighth Amendment, if you can show that the prison staff was deliberately indifferent to a serious risk of harm. If a guard or another prisoner has assaulted you in prison, you may be able to make a claim that either your federal or state constitutional rights were violated.
  • You may consider contacting a trusted staff person, who must report the offense immediately. Staff can report anonymously by calling the Tips Hotline at 573-526-700 or 855-773-6391. Friends or family may report sexual abuse and harassment by calling 573-526-9003, by email at DOC.PREA@doc.mo.gov, or in writing to the PREA Unit; Missouri Department of Corrections; 1709 Industrial Drive; Jefferson City, MO 65109. If you have other general concerns about your safety, please consider submitting a request to your counselor, unit manager, or other staff member detailing your concerns and request to be moved or have your situation rectified. Additionally, document in detail attempts to receive a solution and possibly reporting to: U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division; Special Litigation, Corrections; 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; Washington, DC 20530.  
  • We do not provide direct representation or legal advice in family law cases. You may be able to locate a lawyer by contacting the Missouri Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at 573-636-3635. If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, you should contact the legal aid office that covers your county or city. You can locate the appropriate office by visiting Missouri Legal Services. If the State is seeking to terminate your parental rights and you cannot afford an attorney, you may ask the court to appoint a lawyer for you. 
  • The ACLU does not handle landlord-tenant issues. You may wish to contact Missouri Legal Services. Additional resources can be found here. 
  • If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination prohibited by federal fair housing laws, you can obtain information about filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. You may also be able to file a complaint with the Missouri Human Rights Commission, which you may contact at (573)751-3325. 
  • While we continue to support better immigration policy in Missouri, we unfortunately do not handle individual immigration cases, such as ICE detainer cases. You may find an immigration attorney here. 
  • For disability rights issues, you may consider contacting the Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services.   
  • The ACLU does not handle lawyer complaints – You should speak to the judge in your case about such a complaint. If your lawyer is a public defender, you can also write to the head of the public defender office in your area. If you wish to file a formal bar complaint against your lawyer, you should direct such complaints to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, PO Box 119, 326 Monroe St. Jefferson City, MO 65102-0119, online, or (573)-635-7400.   
  • For individual incidents of discrimination in education,you may file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Educational Opportunities and Disability Rights Section as well as the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. 
  • If you have an issue in a state that is not Missouri, please contact your local ACLU affiliate.
  • Know Your Rights Resources. 

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