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Criminal Justice Reform

CEP supports reforms in the criminal justice system, including alternative rather than mandatory minimum sentencing, re-entry assistance programs, education and training, drug law reform, and effective mental health and substance abuse treatment programs and alternatives.

We oppose inappropriate privatization of essential government services, particularly privatization of correctional services. CEP orchestrated and led a successful campaign to defeat a proposal for Utah’s first private prison and assisted efforts to block privatization of prison health services.

In the summer of 2004, the Utah Department of Corrections announced that it would consider proposals for a private women’s prison. CEP will organize opposition to this proposal and will advocate for drug offender reform legislation to reduce the need for additional women’s prison beds.

• MEASURE WOULD PROTECT PRIVATE SECTOR INTERESTS. MEASURE LOOKS TO BAN GOVERNMENTS FROM COMPETING IN BUSINESS VENTURES. BY ROBERT GEHRKE. THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE,10/26/2007
• EMPLOYMENT, WAGES AND PUBLIC SAFETY, JUSTICE POLICY INSTITUTE, 9/30/07
• JAIL ESCAPE: CRITICS SAY LEGISLATURE CAN TAKE SOME OF THE BLAME, BY CHRISTOPHER SMART, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 09/28/2007
• LEGISLATIVE PANEL SAYS NUCLEAR POWER PROPOSAL'S COSTS NEEDS MORE STUDY BY JUDY FAHYS, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 09/20/2007
• INCONCLUSIVE STUDY OF PRIVATE PRISONS LEAVES LEGISLATIVE PANEL MIFFED, BY RUSS RIZZO, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 09/20/2007
• URINE FOR MONEY: HALFWAY HOUSE WORKER'S CONVICTION UPHELD, BY PAMELA MANSON, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE ,09/19/2007
• PRIVATIZING PRISON MAY NOT SAVE MONEY, BY GEOFFREY FATTAH, DESERET MORNING NEWS, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
• GOVERNMENT VS. PRIVATE SECTOR, LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TACKLES COMPETITION AND PRIVATIZATION, BY JULIE ROSE, KPCW, JUNE 28, 2007
• MARKET PANACEA: SUBCOMMITTEE TARGETS PRISON, UTAH STATE HOSPITAL, TRIBUNE EDITORIAL, 04/02/2007
• JUDICIAL OVERDOSE: 'DRUG-FREE ZONES' TAKE IN TOO MUCH TERRITORY. OPINION, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 6/04/2006
• UTAH PRISON CHIEFS SAY NO TO DRUG LAW, SCHOOL, CHURCH ZONES MISUSED TO BEEF UP SENTENCES, THEY SAY, BY LISA ROSETTA, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 5/29/2006
• DISPARITY BY DESIGN: FINDINGS FOR UTAH, JUSTICE POLICY INSTITUTE, MARCH 22, 2006
• DISPARITY BY DESIGN: HOW DRUG-FREE ZONE LAWS IMPACT RACIAL DISPARITY AND FAIL TO PROTECT YOUTH, EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, JUSTICE POLICY INSTITUTE, MARCH 23, 2006
• DISPARITY BY DESIGN: HOW DRUG-FREE ZONE LAWS IMPACT RACIAL DISPARITY AND FAIL TO PROTECT YOUTH, FULL REPORT, JUSTICE POLICY INSTITUTE, MARCH 23, 2006
• NEW NATIONAL REPORT SHOWS THAT DRUG-FREE ZONE LAWS FAIL TO PROTECT YOUTH FROM DRUG SALES, WORSEN RACIAL DISPARITY IN PRISONS, JUSTICE POLICY INSTITUTE, MARCH 23, 2006
• CROSSING THE LINE, THE PAROLE BOARD CRIES FOUL OVER UTAH’S UBIQUITOUS "DRUG-FREE" ZONES. BY TED MCDONOUGH,SALT LAKE CITY WEEKY, MARCH 23, 2006
• TESTIMONY ON PRIVATE PRISONS TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERIM COMMITTEE - 10/19/05
• METH ARRESTS SOAR, ONLY ARKANSAS MATCHES UTAH'S 100% INCREASE,BY DENNIS ROMBOY, DESERET MORNING NEWS, 07/06/2005
• METH POTENCY SKYROCKETS, AVERAGE PURITY IN UTAH OVER 90%, MAKING IT MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER, BY NATE CARLISLE, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 06/19/2005
• TEXAS PRISON TO BE RUN BY UTAHNS MANAGEMENT & TRAINING: THE CORPORATION FORMERLY MANAGED THE PROMONTORY FACILITY IN THE BEEHIVE STATE, BY DAWN HOUSE, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 06/01/2005
• TO MOVE OR NOT TO MOVE: THAT'S QUESTION FOR PRISON, DECISION WILL BE MADE ON WHETHER IT'LL BENEFIT TAXPAYERS,BY JOSEPH M. DOUGHERTY AND ERIN STEWART, DESERET MORNING NEWS, MONDAY, MAY 29, 2005
• PRICE TAG MAY QUIET TALK OF PRISON MOVE, HEAD OF UTAH PRISONS SAYS: COSTS ASIDE, THE REMOTE RUMORED NEW SITE WOULDN'T HAVE AN AMPLE WORK FORCE, BY REBECCA WALSH, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 05/26/2005
• MOVING THE PRISON: REAL ESTATE VALUES ARE NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE, EDITORIAL, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, MAY 23, 2005
• COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT RFP FOR AN ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDY OF RELOCATING THE DRAPER PRISON
• STRIDING BOLDLY BACKWARD INTO THE FUTURE , CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES AT THE 2005 UTAH LEGISLATURE, BY STEVE ERICKSON, CITIZENS EDUCATION PROJECT, APRIL 5, 2005
• INTERIM STUDY ITEMS RELATED TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE
• FUND THIS DRUG TREATMENT ACT, DESERET MORNING NEWS EDITORIAL, 02/25/2005
• SOME SAY DRUG BILL SOFT ON OFFENDERS, SENATE COMMITTEE: RANKING MEMBERS OF THE PANEL WANT ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES IN A PERSON'S SYSTEM TO BE CONSIDERED POSSESSION, BY KIRSTEN STEWART, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 02/02/2005
• PROTECTING UTAH'S YOUNG, SENATE BACKS A 13 PERCENT BOOST FOR CHILDREN'S JUSTICE CENTERS, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, JANUARY 28, 2005
• BILLS ON DRUG SENTENCES, TREATMENT MAY CONFLICT, WILL PRIORITY BE TO PUNISH OR REHABILITATE OFFENDERS? BY GEOFFREY FATTAH, DESERET MORNING NEWS, 01/20/05
• DRUG REFORMS GET PRELIMINARY OK, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, JANUARY 19, 2005
• H.B. 55, DRUG OFFENSE PENALTY ENHANCEMENTS,2005 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH, SPONSOR: BRAD L. DEE
• S.B. 22, DRUG OFFENDER REFORM ACT, 2005 GENERAL SESSION. STATE OF UTAH, SPONSOR: D. CHRIS BUTTARS
• THE WYOMING METH INITIATIVE, PROMISE, PROGRESS, AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS, BY STEVE ERICKSON AND THE CITIZENS EDUCATION PROJECT, OCTOBER 2004
• METH EMERGENCY: USE SOARING AMONG UTAH FEMALES, DESERET MORNING NEWS, BY LUCINDA DILLON KINKEAD AND DENNIS ROMBOY, 11/14/2004
• PRISON POPULATION TOPS 6,000,BUT RECORD FIGURE IS TERMED A MILESTONE, NOT A UTAH CRISIS, BY JENNIFER DOBNER, DESERET MORNING NEWS, 10/29/2004
• PRISON MOVE PLAN AGAIN SURFACES IN GOVERNOR DEBATE, TELEVISED: HUNTSMAN SAYS "COST RECOVERY" IS KEY: MATHESON CALLS THE PROPOSAL POORLY PRESENTED. BY DAN HARRIE. THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 10/26/2004
• THE MASTERMINDS OF TORTURE, HUMILIATION AND ABUSE: FROM SUPERMAX TO ABU GHRAIB, BY LEAH CALDWELL, COUNTERPUNCH, OCTOBER 15, 2004
• ADDICTS HAVE LONG WAIT FOR TREATMENT, DRUG CONFERENCE STRESSES NEED FOR MORE PROGRAMS,BY AMY JOI BRYSON, DESERET MORNING NEWS, OCTOBER 7, 2004
• LET'S STUDY POSSIBLE RELOCATION OF PRISON, OGDEN STANDARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2004
• HUNTSMAN PROPOSES STATE PRISON IN COUNTY, BY KAREN LEE SCOTT, TOOELE TRANSCRIPT, SEPT. 28, 2004
• MATHESON UNVEILS PROPOSAL TO BOOST UTAH HOMELAND SECURITY, KUTV, SLC, SEPT. 27, 2004
• HUNTSMAN WANTS STATE PRISON MOVED, BY BOB BERNICK JR.,DESERET NEWS, SEPT. 28, 2004
• HUNTSMAN PROPOSES RELOCATING THE PRISON, BY DAN HARRIE, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, SEPT. 28, 2004 (PDF)
• HELPING FOLKS HELP THEMSELVES, CENTERVILLE COMPANY MANAGES JOB-TRAINING CENTERS, PRISONS BY MICHAEL CHANDLER THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, AUGUST 22, 2004
• LOOKING TO PRIVATELY-RUN LOCKUPS, SL TRIBUNE, AUGUST 22, 2004
• SPECIAL-SESSION AGENDA TAKING SHAPE, PRISON FUNDS CONSIDERED, DESERET NEWS, AUGUST 19, 2004
• CORRECTIONS OFFICIAL WARNS OF CROWDING, DESERET NEWS, AUGUST 18, 2004
• PRISON OFFICIAL: INMATE INCREASE GROWS 'CRITICAL', BY ASHLEY BROUGHTON, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, AUGUST 18, 2004
• IMPRISONED THINKING, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, JUNE 19, 2004
• CORRECTIONS MAY SEEK PRIVATIZATION, BY ASHLEY BROUGHTON, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, JUNE 17, 2004

Articles on Citizens Education Project's battle against private prisons in Utah:

Private prison plans scrapped
Utah to rent more bed space from 2 counties instead

• Hearing on jail draws little interest, Deseret News, Thu, 23 Mar 2000
• Look again at private prison, Deseret News, Mon, 13 Mar 2000
• New hurdles for private prison, Salt Lake Tribune, Sun, 05 Mar 2000
• Hefty Cost Endangers Prison Plan, Salt Lake Tribune, Wed, 23 Feb 2000
• Sheriff's association opposes private prison in Tooele County, Deseret News, Sat, 19 Feb 2000
• Prisons for Profit a Good Bargain? , Salt Lake Tribune, Sat, 19 Feb 2000
• S.L. County Hopes Crime Will Pay, Offers Steal on Jail, Salt Lake Tribune, Thu, 10 Feb 2000
• Prison Deal Could Be In Jeopardy , Salt Lake Tribune, Tue, 01 Feb 2000
• Contract near for first private prison,  Deseret News, Tue, 01 Feb 2000
• Utah urged not to privatize prison, Deseret News, Sun, 12 Dec 1999
• History in Prison's Path, Salt Lake Tribune, Mon, 13 Dec 1999
• Watchdog group requests delay of private-prison pact, Deseret News,  Wed, 17 Nov 1999
• Joint Letter to Utah Governor Michael O. Leavitt, CEP, ACLU, AFSCME, November 15, 1999
• Low Inmate Rolls Put Private Prison on Hold, Salt Lake Tribune, Tue, 26 Oct 1999
• Grantsville May Be Slow to See Benefits of Prison , Salt Lake Tribune, Sat, 21 Aug 1999
• Private Prison Operation Worries ACLU, Salt Lake Tribune. Fri, 23 Jul 1999
• Why Prisons Look Good, Salt Lake Tribune, Thu, 18 Mar 1999
• Prison Proposal Slowly Bogging Down, Salt Lake Tribune, Wed, 16 Jun 1999
• Taking Advantage (CEP),W. R. Jensen, Salt Lake Tribune, Tue, 01 Jun 1999
• Skeptical About Prison, Salt Lake Tribune, Fri, 21 May 1999
• Opinion-Bidding for Prisons, Salt Lake Tribune, Mon, 17 May 1999
• Utah's Wendover sees prison as boost to economy, Deseret News, Sun, 16 May 1999
• Duchesne residents divided over a private prison, Deseret News, Fri, 14 May 1999
• State Will Hold Hearings On Potential Prison Sites, Salt lake Tribune, Thu, 22 Apr 1999
• Get ready for private prisons, Opinion Deseret News, Wed, 21 Apr 1999
• Unwanted Neighbor, Letter to Salt Lake Tribune, Thu, 25 Mar 1999
• Four Companies Compete to Be Awarded Prison Contract, Salt Lake Tribune, Tue, 16 Mar 1999
• Duchesne Pushes Hard to Be Prison Site, Salt Lake Tribune, Tue, 16 Mar 1999
• Legislature Briefs (See 'ACCESS TO PRISON REVIEWS'), March 2, 1999
• Private prisons unethical, Opinion by W. R. Jensen, Deseret News, Feb. 28, 1999
• Held Hostage by Prison, Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Feb 1999
• Controversy brews in Fillmore after 4 officials back prison plan, Deseret News, Sun, 28 Feb 1999
• Legislature Holds the Key To Easing Prison Problems, Salt Lake Tribune Editorial, 24 Feb 1999
• State may set up restrictions for private prison operators, Deseret News, Sun, 21 Feb 1999
• Second Bidder Hoping To Build Millard Prison, Salt Lake Tribune, Mon, 08 Feb 1999
• Private prison company to build in Roosevelt if it wins, Deseret News, Sun, 17 Jan 1999
• Private prison company to build in Roosevelt if it wins, Deseret News, Sun, 17 Jan 1999
• Private jails aren't better, CEP Board Chair W. R. Jensen, Sunday, March 8, 1998
• Be Wary of Private Prisons, Salt Lake Tribune Editorial, Sat, 18 Jul 1998
• Fillmore Residents Vote Against Building Private Prison,  Salt Lake Tribune, Wed, 05 Aug 1998
• No private prison in Fillmore but maybe elsewhere in Millard, Deseret News, Wed, 19 Aug 1998
• Prison plan in Millard regains steam, Deseret News,  Wed, 16 Sep 1998
• The pros, cons of privatizing prisons, Deseret News, 07/16/1998
• Letter by CEP Board Chair W. R. Jensen to Utah Association of Counties, October 9,1998
• Opposition to 2nd private prison is strong in Sanpete, Millard, Deseret News, Fri, 06 Nov 1998
• Leavitt Offers Wish List For Corrections, Salt Lake Tribune, Fri, 11 Dec 1998
• Bidding For Private Prisons Begins, Salt Lake Tribune, Thu, 17 Dec 1998

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