UPAN Meeting – March 2017
Ruth Vine Tyler Library 8041 Wood Street, Midvale, UT, United StatesTopic TBA. Free and open to the public.
Utah Prisoner Advocate Network
UPAN | A nonprofit community advocacy group supporting the families of Utah inmates.
Topic TBA. Free and open to the public.
NOT FOR RENT!, Metamora Films latest documentary film is being released and screened at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. The feature length documentary film looks at rental housing barriers ex-felons face as they attempt to rebuild their lives in our communities. With over 95% of the American prison population being released at some point in the future, millions of ex-inmates struggle with ‘red tape’ and strict criminal history rental requirements property managers and landlords enforce. In this unique and powerful film, you’ll meet several people who’ve been personally affected by housing restrictions due to felony convictions.
The film screening is scheduled for April 5th, 2017 from 12:30pm to 2:30pm at the Wildcat Theater. The event is FREE and open to the public including Weber State students who will receive community engagement credit for attending the event. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Monica Williams, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Weber State, University, the film release is part of the Engaged Learning Series, which is a university-wide series of events designed to engage students, faculty, staff, and community in discussion, debate, dialogue, learning, and action around an issue of public concern. For 2017, the series aims to raise awareness, improve personal behavior, and increase public engagement around the issue of “privilege.” In addition to the screening of NOT FOR RENT!, there will be guest speakers, a Q&A with the film’s director, Matt Duhamel, and a social hour with free lunch catered by Sodexho.
The Utah Prisoner Advocate Network (UPAN) will be present as a vendor with information on their organization, mission statement and how you can get involved in prisoner advocacy work in Utah and beyond
Many people have no idea what course to take after the verdict has been handed down and their loved one ends up in prison on an indeterminate sentence. Attorneys Lorenzo Miller and Patrick Shea will make up a panel of post-conviction attorneys to talk about issues related to appeals, board hearing preparation, what services an attorney can provide to help an inmate and family prepare for a hearing, etc. Please note that UPAN does not endorse specific attorneys or offer legal advice, but we feel it would be beneficial for advocates to hear from experts in their field on the matter. Questions will be submitted beforehand in writing in order to keep the forum orderly and on topic. Please let one of the UPAN staff know prior to the meeting if you would like our guests to address a certain topic. Free and open to the public.
Shannon Cox of Journey of Hope and Rev. Vicki Neuman will be our guest speakers. Free and open to the public.
We will be discussing parole issues related to employment, housing, and other resources. Free and open to the public.
Come eat food and have an enjoyable evening with clients, volunteers and supporters of Crossroads Urban Center. Talk to candidates for the City Council and elected officials about issues that […]
UPAN Meeting - October 2017 A retired AP&P officer shares his thoughts and advice for felons and their families navigating life after serving time in prison. Free and open to […]
UPAN Meeting - November 2017 Open family meeting. Free and open to the public.
UPAN Monthly Meeting TOPIC: Sex Offenders on Parole by Molly Prince, LCSW An overview of what to expect when a person with a sex offense paroles in terms of parole […]
The Mission of Measures for Justice is to to use data to measure and understand county-level criminal justice system performance in all 3,000+ counties across the US. Their data portal aims to measure how the US criminal justice system is faring in three areas: Fair Process, Public Safety, and Fiscal Responsibility. Collecting this data every two years and updating this data regularly will increase its efficacy and usefulness to people who are directly impacted by the CJ system, organizations working to reform the system, and government agencies. It also has the potential to help solve long standing and newly developed criminal justice challenges. Currently, there is a gap in criminal justice data because of records being kept locally, and not measuring the same issues. Measures for justice will seek to provide context for responsible data interpretation, which will hopefully stem use of inaccurate or incomplete sources in trying to identify problems and solutions related to mass incarceration.
Do you want to engage on important issues during the upcoming 2018 Utah Legislative Session? Check out this special training from the ACLU of Utah. Does your schedule prevent you from coming to the Utah Capitol--but you still want to be an activist? Then the ACLU of Utah's CyberLobbying 101 Workshop is for you.
Day of Empathy is a national day of action to generate empathy on a massive scale for millions of Americans impacted by the criminal justice system.
In order to reform our criminal justice system, we must first humanize and empathize with those who are impacted by it. This includes crime survivors and those who have committed crimes.
The Day of Empathy highlights the need for #JusticeReformNOW and shares the perspectives of Americans impacted by the current justice system - from survivors of violent crime to those who are addicted to opioids or other drugs and those who mentally ill to incarcerated individuals working to transform themselves, people with a criminal record desperately seeking a second chance, and all community members impacted by crime, public safety, and violence.
Without empathy, we cannot achieve meaningful policy changes that keep our communities safe, our families whole, and our economy strong.
There are thousands of people - mothers, daughters, children - who have stories to tell.
The Day of Empathy shines a light on people impacted by the criminal justice system, uplift their voices, and win over hearts and minds towards the idea that transformation is possible.