Posted Thursday June 4th, 2020 - 2:59 pm

Calif. prisons launch statewide internal affairs team after mishandled inmate complaints ... See MoreSee Less

Calif. prisons launch statewide internal affairs team after mishandled inmate complaints

www.correctionsone.com

A review found inmate complaints of staff misconduct were handled "inadequately" in more than half of all cases it analyzed at Salinas Valley State Prison

Posted Thursday June 4th, 2020 - 9:12 am

Thousands peacefully participate in another night of protests across Utah ... See MoreSee Less

Thousands peacefully participate in another night of protests across Utah

www.ksl.com

Protesters honored the memory of George Floyd with a silent demonstration outside the Salt Lake Public Safety Building followed by a march through downtown to the U.

Posted Wednesday June 3rd, 2020 - 3:07 pm

Cory Booker Cites Marijuana Enforcement As Example Of Racial Injustice That Is Motivating Protests | Marijuana Moment ... See MoreSee Less

Cory Booker Cites Marijuana Enforcement As Example Of Racial Injustice That Is Motivating Protests | Marijuana Moment

www.marijuanamoment.net

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is highlighting systemic social issues—including racial disparities in marijuana enforcement—that need to be addressed as people across the country march in response to police killings of black Americans. As protests erupt in the wake of a Minneapolis police officer’s s...

Posted Wednesday June 3rd, 2020 - 2:54 pm

“If the cops were so comfortable with the actions they were taking against George Floyd with someone filming so closely, just imagine what goes on inside prisons.” ... See MoreSee Less

Federal Bureau of Prisons Locks Down Prisoners and Takes Away Communications Amid Protests

theappeal.org

After protests broke out in several cities in response to George Floyd’s death, the agency ordered the first nationwide lockdown in 25 years.

Posted Tuesday June 2nd, 2020 - 8:17 pm

The probe, stemming from the death of George Floyd, will be designed to root out "systemic racism that is generations deep," Gov. Tim Walz told reporters. ... See MoreSee Less

State of Minnesota files civil rights charge against Minneapolis Police Department

www.nbcnews.com

The inquiry, stemming from the death of George Floyd, will be designed to root out "systemic racism that is generations deep," Gov. Tim Walz told reporters.

Posted Tuesday June 2nd, 2020 - 11:19 am

Kaitlin Felsted, Public Information Officer with the Utah Department of Corrections provided this statement in regards to inquiries they received about the possibility of implementing video visitation at the Draper and Gunnison Prisons:

"We want you to know that we are actively exploring options for video visiting, while we continue to suspend visiting at the Utah State Prison and the Central Utah Correctional Facility.

Based on the Governor’s Color-Coded Health Guidance System, our facilities continue to operate at a high-risk level, as incarcerated individuals exist in a very community-based environment.

While we are moving as quickly as we can, there are roadblocks along the way, including a lack of WiFi access points or poor cellular signal within prison housing.

We have technicians identifying locations for access via cellular service, and we are hoping to implement something in the near future.

Our intent is to set up something more permanent within our correctional facility in Gunnison, so we can offer this supplementary form of communication to incarcerated individuals for years to come.

Our correctional facility in Draper is more complicated, as we consider it's varied infrastructure and the funds needed to invest in such an engineered process, especially as we will be moving to the new facility in Salt Lake City in the next two years, and which will be equipped with video visiting.

It's also important to note that while we are working to add this additional communication channel, we will not be eliminating in-person visiting at any of our facilities once it resumes--present and future.

For now, we will continue to offer 10 free 15 minute phone calls per week, and we will press forward in exploring ways to increase communication, bolster morale, while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for incarcerated individuals.

We truly recognize how critical family and friends are to those incarcerated, and we feel your frustrations and anxiety as we continue to adapt to this novel coronavirus.

We encourage you to continue communicating with your loved one through the current channels available. A handwritten note, or supportive phone call can make a world of difference in their lives.

Thank you for your continued patience as we work to adapt to these difficult times."

corrections.utah.gov/index.php/home/alerts-2/1237-udc-coronavirus-updates ... See MoreSee Less

Posted Monday June 1st, 2020 - 7:50 pm

UDC Visitation Update 06/01/2020: "Visiting will remain on hold through July 1 at which time we will again re-evaluate. Recently we created a working group to identify more activities and programs to offer inmates, while working in accordance with recommendations from the CDC and State officials. Our department is also exploring innovative ways to enhance inmates' communication with families and friends. In the meantime, we will continue to offer 10 free 15-minute phone calls per week to each inmate. Public Information Panels and volunteer activities continue to be postponed until further notice."

corrections.utah.gov/index.php/home/alerts-2/1237-udc-coronavirus-updates ... See MoreSee Less

Posted Monday June 1st, 2020 - 7:47 pm

The UPAN Newsletter for June 2020 is now available! In this issue: COVID-19 Mask Wearing Challenges and Skin Care; Dismissal of ACLU Lawsuit; Mailing Rules Strictly Enforced; What is UPAN?; Programs considered for time cuts; Serving Time Cafe permanently closed; CUCF’s UCI Sewing Shop making masks; USP Draper Trivia; Writing exercise; and much more! ... See MoreSee Less

UPAN Newsletter - June 2020

utahprisoneradvocate.org

In this issue: COVID-19 Mask Wearing Challenges and Skin Care; Dismissal of ACLU Lawsuit; Mailing Rules Strictly Enforced; What is UPAN?; and much more!

Posted Monday June 1st, 2020 - 5:09 pm

What COVID-19 Prison Outbreaks Could Teach Us About Herd Immunity. Prisons turn out to be a key place to study how coronavirus spreads and how immunity to it works. ... See MoreSee Less

What COVID-19 Prison Outbreaks Could Teach Us About Herd Immunity

www.themarshallproject.org

Prisons turn out to be a key place to study how coronavirus spreads and how immunity to it works.

Posted Monday June 1st, 2020 - 12:48 pm

40 Prosecutors including Sim Gill condemn George Floyd murder www.abc4.com/news/district-attorney-sim-gill-joins-39-prosecutors-nationwide-to-condemn-murder-of... ... See MoreSee Less

Why prosecutors including Sim Gill are condemning the murder of George Floyd

www.abc4.com

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4-News) – District Attorney Sim Gill joined 39 other prosecutors to condemn the death of George Floyd and push for police reforms. In a press release sent to ABC4 New…

Posted Monday June 1st, 2020 - 12:18 pm

SLC Justice Court closed Monday due to protest damage, virtual meetings will proceed ... See MoreSee Less

Salt Lake City Justice Court closed Monday due to protest damage, virtual meetings will proceed

bit.ly

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 News) – Saturday’s protests in Downtown Salt Lake City left a significant amount of damage on several state and city federal buildings. Salt Lake City Justice Court…