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Utah Prisoner Advocate Network

UPAN | A nonprofit community advocacy group supporting the families of Utah inmates.


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Yesterday’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver took a hard look at undercover policing and sting operations, and it highlighted something families in our community already understand far too well: systems can be designed in ways that do not just catch harm, but can also create it.

When law enforcement uses deception, pressure, paid informants, or fabricated scenarios to draw people into crimes they may not have committed otherwise, the people most at risk are often those who are already vulnerable: people living in poverty, people with mental illness, people struggling with addiction, young people, and people who are isolated, desperate, or easily manipulated.

That should concern all of us.

Entrapment is technically a legal defense, but the legal bar is high. Federal guidance frames it around whether the government implanted the criminal idea in someone who was not already predisposed to commit it. In practice, that can be very difficult to prove. Critics have also documented how sting operations can disproportionately impact marginalized communities while creating the appearance of crime prevention rather than addressing root causes. 

For UPAN, this is bigger than one TV segment. It is a reminder that vulnerable populations are often easier to manipulate than to support. If we truly care about public safety, we should be asking harder questions about coercion, accountability, and whether these tactics are protecting communities or exploiting people who need help.

Watch the segment and think critically about who gets targeted, who benefits, and who pays the price.

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22 hours ago
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The next public screening of the award-winning film Breaking Chains - in our own voice, will be at the Utah Film Center in Salt Lake City. Please spread the word, and get your tickets. Admission is free, but consider a donation to the Utah Film Center.

For tickets see event announcement above, or click on link below

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5 days ago
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About UPAN

The Utah Prisoner Advocate Network (UPAN) is dedicated to supporting families and loved ones as they navigate the challenging journey of incarceration. When a friend or family member is incarcerated, it can be an overwhelming experience, as supporters face the complex rules, regulations, and restrictions of life separated by bars. UPAN works to make this transition less complicated and isolating by providing resources and support for families while also advocating for better conditions and fairness within Utah’s correctional facilities. Please visit our About Page to learn more.

Follow UPAN on Linktree
All of our important links are now in one place! https://linktr.ee/utahprisoner

Associations

UPAN is a proud coalition member of People Not Prisons, a group of advocacy groups working on behalf of people with mental health conditions, people recovering from substance use disorders, and men and women caught up in Utah’s criminal justice system.

Donate | Federal EIN Number: 90-1021189

The Utah Prisoner Advocate Network (UPAN) is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your contributions are tax-deductible and directly support our mission to create positive change. Information about an UPAN’s tax-exempt status and filings can be found on the IRS website. To make a donation and join our efforts, please visit our Donations page.

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Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 464
Draper, UT 84020

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