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Utah Prisoner Advocate Network

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


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


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Gov. Spencer Cox has appointed two new justices to serve on the newly expanded Utah Supreme Court.

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21 hours ago
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Who Cares? They’re Prisoners.

The other day somebody said something to me that I’ve heard a hundred times.

“Who cares? They’re prisoners.”

And honestly, if you’ve never had a loved one incarcerated, I understand why that’s the reaction.

But here’s the problem.

More than 90% of the people currently sitting in Utah prisons are coming home.

Not someday.

Not maybe.

They’re coming home.

They’re moving into neighborhoods.

They’re getting jobs.

They’re raising kids.

They’re sitting next to people in church.

They’re becoming part of communities again.

So whether you care about prisoners or not, you should care about what happens to them while they’re in prison.

Because whatever is happening inside those walls eventually walks right back out the front gate.

Over the last year, I’ve spent hundreds of hours reading letters, grievances, emails, public records, and reports from incarcerated people, family members, volunteers, and treatment providers.

And what strikes me isn’t any one story.

It’s how often the stories sound the same.

One person reports being told they need a program before parole, but can’t get into the program.

Another reports a medication interruption.

Another reports losing access to mental health treatment after a transfer.

Another reports waiting weeks for medical attention.

Another reports being locked down for days with limited movement.

A single complaint doesn’t prove anything.

But when the same complaints keep showing up from people who don’t know each other, at some point you have to stop asking whether the people are connected and start asking whether the problem is.

That’s why prison reform matters.

Not because prison should be comfortable.

Not because people shouldn’t be held accountable.

Because taxpayers are spending millions of dollars to produce an outcome.

The outcome is supposed to be safer communities.

If people are leaving prison more unstable, less healthy, less educated, and less prepared for life than when they entered, then we’re not getting the outcome we’re paying for. #Utah ... See MoreSee Less

21 hours ago
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FYI. Sharing what t

FYI. Sharing what the Utah State Bar explains about sentencing and a link to sentencing guide guidelines.Who decides how sentences are set in Utah? It’s a shared process designed to promote fairness and consistency:

• The Legislature writes the laws and sentencing ranges.

• The Utah Sentencing Commission develops sentencing guidelines.

• Judges apply the law and guidelines to the facts of each case.

This system of checks and balances helps ensure informed, fair, and transparent sentencing decisions.

Want to learn more? Utah’s sentencing guidelines are public and available online, giving everyone access to the same resources used to inform sentencing decisions. Go to https://justice.utah.gov/divisions-and-offices/…;

#UtahCourts #RuleOfLaw #JudicialEducation #Sentencing #CivicEducation ... See MoreSee Less

3 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.

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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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