Utah State Prisons

This article covers what you need to know if a loved one is arrested and sentenced to prison. It will also help you understand and navigate the prison process as well as inform you on: How to locate and communicate with the prisoner once arrested. How to find constructive ways to express your support and…

Programs For Families in Financial Trouble Financial Hardship When a family member is incarcerated, it quickly becomes a financial hardship for the family left behind. Not only is there lost income, but the family also now has other costs associated with their loved one's incarceration, such as travel expenses related to visitation, communication expenses, child…

Each state's criminal justice system consists of legislative bodies that enact criminal laws and policing agencies that enforce them. The same is true for the federal criminal justice system. Federal and State Criminal Justice System Similarities Each state and the federal government have robust law enforcement agencies that include highly trained police officers and law…

The fundamental rights of the accused emanate from the fourth (search and seizure, and the rights upon arrest), fifth (due process, self-incrimination, grand jury), and Sixth Amendment (rights of those charged in a criminal proceeding) of the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights. This article addresses the rights of the accused in criminal proceedings. According to…

There are two types of evidence codes. One is used for criminal proceedings and the other for civil proceedings. Both codes are similar but differ in the standard of proof each requires to prevail.

At the sentencing hearing, both the prosecutor and defense counsel will have reviewed the probation report and supporting documents and statements. Counsel will present their respective sentencing arguments to the court. The offender will also be present. The defense will argue there are mitigating circumstances supporting a reduced sentence, while the prosecution will argue there are aggravating factors to support an enhanced sentence.

Once convicted of a crime in a federal district court, your lawyer may determine there are viable grounds to appeal the conviction based on a court error of law. There are precise procedural rules your lawyer must follow to secure your right to appeal.   This article provides a summary of a very complex legal procedure.…

While the words jail and prison often overlap in American society, it's essential to know the difference between them. A jail is a temporary holding facility for people serving a relatively short prison sentence or awaiting trial. When a person first gets arrested, they are usually taken to jail. There, they will stay locked up…

This article covers the prison industrial complex, the history of the abolitionist movement, and the current trends in what is known as transformative justice. Reforming The Reformers – The Prison Abolition Movement The Prison Industrial Complex The "prison industrial complex" is a term that gained resonance through the activist work of thinkers like Angela Davis…

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice, administers the federal prison system. As of 2024, BOP operates 122 prison facilities nationwide, including minimum-security prison camps, medium-security correctional institutions, high-security penitentiaries, and administrative facilities that handle special needs. Locating a Prisoner in Federal Prison You can use the Federal…

There are many different types of criminal defense lawyers. Most spend their time in state courts defending clients in state criminal actions. Other criminal defense attorney practice in both federal and state courts. This article focuses mainly on the federal criminal defense attorney. Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys If you are a target in a federal…