Conservatives should support sentencing reform for crack cocaine
Science tells us there is no pharmacological difference between crack and powder cocaine in terms of active ingredients, so why treat them so differently under the law?
Utah will soon allow some lower-level crimes to be cleared from the record
If you’re reading this, and have a criminal record or know of someone who has a criminal record, please share this information as it could help someone’s job and life prospects.
Asset Forfeiture Reform Is Great. More Is Better.
There’s still a lot of work to be done to fully protect an individual's private property from being taken by law enforcement.
Utah Ends Debt-Based Driver’s License Suspensions
If an individual breaks the law, they should absolutely be held accountable for their actions. But it’s important to penalize the underlying action, not the subsequent failure to pay the associated fine. Taking away their...
Utah Stops Releasing Pre-Conviction Mugshots
In most cases, because of this bill, individuals mugshot’s will be kept private, ensuring their reputations aren’t forever tarnished before a guilty plea or finding is ever met, despite their presumed innocence.
Utah’s medical cannabis program is a success
This op-ed was originally published in the Salt Lake Tribune. Megan Keller, a Provo mom of four, used to suffer 30 seizures every single day. Her epilepsy made it impossible to work, drive or perform regular tasks independently....
Changes coming to probation and parole
Technical violations should not result in jail, and this bill takes the first step to help make sure that doesn’t happen. The Sentencing Commission has already done a lot of great work on Utah’s probation and parole system, and...
Stop suspending driver licenses for unpaid court debt
Unless you live and work in downtown Salt Lake, having a driver’s license is essential — especially in the rural parts of the state. Yet, to the detriment of those who are struggling financially, the state has made a bad habit of...
Next for Utah criminal justice reform? The court system
The justice court system would benefit from a thorough review. Utahns deserve consideration of circumstances and to have corruption stopped before it starts.
A routine traffic stop should be nothing more
There's a simple way to let police do their jobs without violating the rights of individuals during traffic stops. Here's how.