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Utah Prisoner Advocate Network

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


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On January 21, 2026 in Dallas, Texas, something powerful happened. The Dallas County Commissioners Court declared Tommy Lee Walker innocent 70 years after the state executed him for the 1953 death of Venice Parker, according to the Innocence Project. Walker was just 19 years old when he was arrested, and officials now say his case was shaped by racial bias, unreliable evidence, and a coerced confession.

Back then, Dallas was gripped by fear during a racially charged “manhunt,” and police arrested hundreds of Black men while searching for answers. Walker said he did not do it, and he had a strong alibi with ten different witnesses because he was at the hospital for the birth of his son, Edward Lee Smith. But investigators focused on him anyway, and the review found the interrogation tactics and trial failures were deeply unfair.

For Walker's family, this was a wrong finally being brought into the open. Smith spent decades carrying the pain of losing his father he barely got to know while the world believed a lie. Tommy Lee Walker was always innocent. And while this verdict can't bring him back, his name is finally cleared, and his innocence is restored.

(Photo: Courtesy of Shelby Tauber for the Innocence Project | Hayes Collection / Dallas Public Library) ... See MoreSee Less

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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.

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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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