Advocates for Criminal Justice Reform in Utah
The Utah Prisoner Advocate Network is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and 100% volunteer grassroots community outreach organization that aims to simplify the incarceration process for the inmates’ supporters—while also advocating for better conditions inside Utah jails and prisons. We do this primarily by educating the public through monthly support meetings and newsletters, an open dialogue with the Utah Department of Corrections / county jail administrations, legislative advocacy, guest speakers, coalition forming, and a shared network of useful resources. Instead of membership, our network constituents are formed by volunteers, criminal justice advocates, industry professionals, expert advisors, coalition organizations, formerly incarcerated individuals, and over 1,000 Utah families of the incarcerated and growing.Our Mission Our Organizers Media Inquiries
Join the UPAN Family Support Group on Facebook
We’ve formed a private family support group as a safe place to ask questions, get advice and emotional support from people that know what you’re going through.
- Invaluable resource for those who are new to the criminal justice system in Utah
- Network with UPAN Directors, advocates, and other families of incarcerated loved ones
- Ask questions and get advice
- Moral support from others who’ve experienced the same type of issues and situations
- Formerly incarcerated individuals trying to get back on their feet and looking for resources
- Discussions on criminal justice reform issues
- News, updates, and much more
Join Our Support Group
Join Our UPAN Volunteers / Committees Working Group
Latest News
How Utah lawmakers propose to deter suicide rates in county jails. A bill that passed the House would provide funding for barriers on high ledges in jails. ... See MoreSee Less

Utah considering suicide barriers on ledges in county jails to deter deaths
www.deseret.com
A new bill to pass in the House would provide funding for barriers on ledges in an effort to lower high suicide rates in county jails.- Likes: 0
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UDC has posted the following notice on the visitation page of their website: “NOTICE (updated 02/04/23) All housing units at both the Utah State Correctional Facility and Central Utah Correctional Facility are closed for visiting and volunteer services. Status will be revisited on Monday.”
The facilities status page also notes the following:
USCF – All housing units are closed to visiting and volunteer services. Status will be revisited on Monday.
CUCF – All housing units are closed to visiting and volunteer services. Status will be revisited on Monday.
IPP: Inmate Placement Program – Please visit the website of the county jail your loved one is housed in or visit their website for a status update.
More info: corrections.utah.gov/visit-an-inmate/
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Sentenced as a teen to die in prison, Cordell Miller earned a second chance under a Washington, D.C. youth sentencing reform law. In part one of this three-part series, Sylvia A. Harvey tracks Miller's difficult childhood from Jamaica, to New York City, to the nation's capital. Co-published with The Imprint. ... See MoreSee Less

A Lonely Child Finds His Way Out of Abuse and Homelessness, It Lands Him Behind Bars
theappeal.org
First in a three-part series on a teenager with a tumultuous childhood sent to die in prison, and where his life would lead. The following narrative was compiled from interviews and court records.People say this jail's price of calls has made it a struggle to keep their families together, help care for their children and maintain their mental health. Some studies say regular calls play a role in keeping people from ending up back behind bars. ... See MoreSee Less

At This Ohio Jail, Calls Cost 8 Times as Much as From State Prisons
trib.al
Phone calls from this Ohio county jail cost eight times as much as calls from any Ohio state prison.“When People Fear Me Based on My Jail Tats and Scars, They Miss the Real Me.” A recent ride to a public clinic gave Jose Armendariz a quick break from jail. But he couldn’t escape the fear and judgement of the other patients. ... See MoreSee Less

When People Fear Me Based on My Jail Tats and Scars, They Miss the Real Me
www.themarshallproject.org
A recent ride to a public clinic gave Jose Armendariz a quick break from jail. But he couldn’t escape the fear and judgement of the other patients.Developed by formerly incarcerated people, the video series brings news, interviews and profiles into U.S. prisons and jails. ... See MoreSee Less

Inside Story Trailer: The U.S. Justice System From Those Who Lived It
www.themarshallproject.org
The Marshall Project and VICE News will launch a show Feb. 2.Assault against corrections officer brings up safety concerns at new state prison ... See MoreSee Less

Assault against corrections officer brings up safety concerns at new state prison
ksltv.com
Concerns are arising over safety at the new Utah state prison after an inmate attacked an officer and sent them to the hospital. The concerns are sparking discussions on Capitol Hill, between corrections officers advocates and lawmakers.I understand a few inmates can be dangerous, but one problem is that some officers create the problem by angering the inmates, making fun of them and not helping by not listening to the inmates problems. I'm not saying that it is all the problem, but could be something that's not being considered.
Proposed bill would change line of questioning for minors arrested after criminal offenses ... See MoreSee Less

Proposed bill would change line of questioning for minors arrested after criminal offenses
kutv.com
38 percent of people exonerated from prison nationwide were sentenced as children after giving police a false confession.That’s according to the National RegistUtah correctional officer hospitalized after assault at new state prison ... See MoreSee Less

Utah correctional officer hospitalized after assault at new state prison
kutv.com
A correctional officer was taken to the hospital after getting assaulted in the maximum-security area of the new Utah state prison, officials confirmed.AccordinDon't take this wrong, I in no way condone what happened but most of the guards routinely treat the incarcerated men like trash, it's only a matter of time that one or more get sick of it and lash out.

Bills we’re tracking for Jan 31st. More details at: le.utah.gov/DynaBill/BillList?session=2023GS ... See MoreSee Less
“The U.S. is unique in that more than 95 percent of all criminal cases end in a plea bargain. No other country comes anywhere close. Our uniqueness in plea bargaining has led us to uniquely bad outcomes. We couldn’t have gotten these astronomical numbers of system-involved people without a method of getting lots of convictions quickly, and that’s what the plea bargain is.” ... See MoreSee Less

Plea Bargains Are a Tool of Racist Mass Incarceration
truthout.org
The U.S. bases an entire criminal legal system on backroom “deals” that are sure to end in convictions.Broxton author Mark Elliott Miller has published a new book, Doc Miller's Prison Prognosis: An Insider's Examination of Correctional Healthcare. Miller, a health services administrator and university educator, takes the reader inside prison and jail clinics across America to see healthcare behind bars. He shares touching and tragic stories to inspire every reader to look differently at healthcare in our country. ... See MoreSee Less

Broxton author goes behind bars to share healthcare stories
douglasnow.com
Broxton author Mark Elliott Miller has published a new book, Doc Miller's Prison Prognosis: An Insider's Examination of Correctional Healthcare. Miller, a health services administrator and university educator, takes the reader inside prison and jail clinics across America to see healthcare behind ba...Not for the faint of heart
Prosecutors to Congress: Let state prisons jam cellphones ... See MoreSee Less

Prosecutors to Congress: Let state prisons jam cellphones
www.crossroadstoday.com
Top state prosecutors are urging Congress to pass legislation allowing state prisons to jam signals of cellphones smuggled to inmates.The person on whom the film “SLAM” is based finally got to see his story on the big screen at the Sundance Film Festival’s 25th Anniversary Digital Restoration screening. “SLAM” won the Grand Jury Prize at the festival in Park City in 1998. Momolu Stewart attended the screening and said he is grateful to all the people who fought to help him get released. Arrested in Washington, D.C., in the 90s, he was a small-time marijuana dealer and street poet. But his arrest catapulted him into the violence of life in prison. ... See MoreSee Less

Former prison inmate watches Sundance film based on his life 25 years later
www.stgeorgeutah.com
ST. GEORGE — The person on whom the film “SLAM” is based finally got to see his story on the big screen at the Sundance Film Festival’s 25th Anniversary Digital Restoration screening. “SLAM” won the Grand Jury Prize at the festival in Park City in 1998. Momolu Stewart attended the screen...Symposium on Prison Reform Kicks Off Opening of New Johnny Cash Exhibit ... See MoreSee Less

Symposium on Prison Reform Kicks Off Opening of New Johnny Cash Exhibit - Pepperdine Graphic
pepperdine-graphic.com
Pepperdine Libraries and the Center for Faith and Common Good collaborates on a symposium on prison reform. The symposium occurred in tandem with the new Johnny Cash exhibit.Canyon County Sheriff's Office investigating death of 33-year-old inmate. An investigation is underway after a 33-year-old inmate was found unresponsive in his cell at the Dale Haile Detention Center in Caldwell Saturday morning. ... See MoreSee Less

Canyon County Sheriff's Office investigating death of 33-year-old inmate
www.ktvb.com
An investigation is underway after a 33-year-old inmate was found unresponsive in his cell at the Dale Haile Detention Center in Caldwell Saturday morning.Does Medicare still give you coverage if you are in jail? Prisons are required to provide free healthcare coverage for the incarcerated, but you may still want to keep up with your Medicare payments. ... See MoreSee Less

Does Medicare still give you coverage if you are in jail?
en.as.com
Prisons are required to provide free healthcare coverage for the incarcerated, but you may still want to keep up with your Medicare payments.The prison does NOT give free health care! My son was charged for needing to go to the hospital because of the lack of proper medical attention inside the new prison. I had recently put a large deposit on his books so he could get clothes, shoes and other essentials and the prison took nearly every penny to reimburse THEM for the ER visit!! I'm so angry about that!!
"SHE'D STILL BE HERE" - The families of two high-profile murder victims were in the Utah State Senate to push for passage of a major domestic violence prevention bill that they believe could save lives. ... See MoreSee Less

Gabby Petito, Mandy Mayne's families push for bill in Utah legislature
www.fox13now.com
The families of two high-profile murder victims were in the Utah State Senate to push for passage of a major domestic violence prevention bill that they believe could save lives.FUTURE DIRECTOR? - Members of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council are expected to discuss and decide Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby's future during an emergency meeting Tuesday. ... See MoreSee Less

Sheriff Jared Rigby’s future with POST could be decided tomorrow
www.fox13now.com
Members of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council are expected to discuss and decide Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby's future during an emergency meeting Tuesday.Moab jail guard charged with recording, distributing inappropriate security footage of inmate ... See MoreSee Less

Moab jail guard charged with recording, distributing inappropriate security footage of inmate
www.fox13now.com
A corrections officer at the Grand County Jail has resigned from his position after being charged with taking an inappropriate photo or video of a