On September 5, families, friends and supporters of people impacted by law enforcement excessive use of force will gather to share stories at “No More Tears: Stories of Police Violence.” 

Tell your state legislator how inadequate legal counsel has failed you or someone you know, who couldn’t afford her or his own private attorney.

Without Planned Parenthood, millions of women and families in low-income communities would not have the healthcare they need. TAKE ACTION: Sign this petition to protect women’s reproductive decisions.

This blog post was written by Alexandria Sadler (Summer Intern 2015), a recent graduate of the University of Utah who will be attending law school this fall in California.

In practice, “solitary confinement” isn’t exactly what you see in movies: the dirt-smeared man alone in a dark cell, with a rat for company and a tiny window his only connection to the outside world.

All Utah same sex parents who qualify can be listed on birth certificates.

Last week, the Salt Lake County Council discussed ways in which the county can eliminate pay gaps between public defenders and county prosecutors. This is very good news.

On July 15, just two-and-a-half weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling on same-sex marriage, LOVE WON AGAIN in Utah!

What does it mean, to “pay your debt to society” after committing a crime?

Today the Court determined our constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection prohibit states from excluding same-sex couples from marriage.

“Words cannot express the happiness we feel in response to the Supreme Court Decision.” ACLU of Utah Plaintiffs Mrs. & Mrs. Roe

Last Saturday, a committed community activists came together in a sunny multi-purpose room to discuss a not-so-sunny subject: the killing of community members by law enforcement officers.

"Any adult Utahn who watched any television growing up probably knows these words by heart: ‘You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.’"

So, if you haven’t heard the news, the ACLU of Utah is supportive of the prison relocation. Well, not EXACTLY.

The ACLU of Utah works on criminal justice issues all up and down what we call the "criminal justice pipeline" - everything from law enforcement tactics and discipline in school to prison/jail conditions and felon discrimination. That's a lot of work. And it's also a lot of news to pass along to our supporters, allies and partners. So here goes!

Last year, Sen. Mark Madsen’s bill to legalize the use of medical cannabis nearly passed through the Utah Senate – and he has every intention of trying again in 2016. The ACLU of Utah agrees that NOW is the time to allow legal access to medical cannabis to people who are ill and wish to use this particular drug regimen if works for them.

The Prison Relocation Commission recently announced a series of "Open Houses" in various locations for members of the public to learn more, and ask questions, about the relocation of the primary Utah State Prison facility currently in Draper, Utah.

Plenty has been happening...so let's dive right in with some news on the prison relocation.  Has the New Prison Relocation/Development Commission Started to Meet Publicly? No.  No meeting set yet for the Prison Development (formerly Relocation) Commission. The last official public news was that the same five sites are still up for consideration - as presented in the February 27 PRC meeting - and that there is NO official ranking of those sites. The full presentation by MGT of America from that meeting is posted at the bottom of this post for your information. Does Any CONVENIENTLY Located City Want the Prison? Also No.

Here it is, friends, your final installment of select(ed) information from the 2015 legislative session, related to criminal justice reform.

Almost there, friends, almost there. This is the 3rd of 4 installments, updating you about mostly good (but some not-so-good) stuff that happened in the area of criminal justice reform during the legislative session.