Utahns from all walks of life will gather at the State Capitol tomorrow, February 10, at noon, to raise their voices in support of “Justice Reinvestment.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE:
WHAT: Rally For Reform
WHERE: State Capitol, South Steps
WHEN: Rally at noon, speakers at 12:10
(Rally will be concluded by 12:45)
WHO: Sponsoring organizations include
NAMI-Utah
Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA)
Utah Prison Support
Utah Prisoner Advocate Network
Disability Law Center
ACLU of Utah
Drug Policy Project of Utah
The 18 “Justice Reinvestment” recommendations from CCJJ will be presented to the 2015 Legislature as a bill sponsored by Rep. Eric Hutchings and Sen. Stuart Adams (bill is not yet numbered or public, but will be shortly).
The recommendations include more funding for community-based treatment for mentally ill people and those with substance abuse problems, minor sentencing changes for low-level non-violent offenses (primarily drug-related), and new research-driven guidelines for Adult Probations & Parole agents.
The Rally for Reform will feature several speakers, all of whom have very personal experience with the criminal justice system: Shannon Cox, a former AP&P agent and now the executive of Journey of Hope; Ben Aldana, a recent UVU graduate who spent six years in federal prison; Holly Moore, whose husband is currently incarcerated at the Utah State Prison; Damian Trujillo, who has overcome a serious substance abuse disorder and rebuilt his life after being constantly entangled with the criminal justice system; and Virginia Ward, who had become a fierce advocate for reform after her own experience in jail.
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