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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

UT: Criminal Justice

Offenders who engage in financially motivated sextortion are often located outside the U.S., primarily in west African countries of Nigeria and Ivory Coast, or Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines, according to the FBI. (Adobe Stock)
'Sextortion' cases on rise in UT and nationally

The FBI is warning the public about an increase in the crime known as "sextortion," when suspects target minors and threaten or coerce them into sendi…

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In 2020, 3,168 adult and children were served in Utah domestic violence shelters, but close to 2,200 requests for shelter were unmet. (Adobe Stock)
UT Measure Aims to Cut 'Lethal' Domestic Violence Incidents

It has been just days since Utah leaders enacted a bill that requires law enforcement agencies to conduct a 12-question assessment in response to dome…

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The State of Utah used some of its COVID-19 pandemic relief funding to build the internet infrastructure needed for the higher-ed program in its juvenile justice facilities. (Adobe Stock)
College Courses Show Benefits for Incarcerated Youth in UT

Utah is one of a few states where juveniles behind bars can earn college credit. Utah's Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth program lets young …

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A report from The Sentencing Project found that calls for a return to get-tough youth justice policies are misguided and based on a false narrative rather that data. (BillionPhotos/Adobe Stock)
Report: Juvenile-Justice Reforms Show Progress in UT, US Systems

New research finds reports of skyrocketing youth crime are not only unfounded, but also are fueling calls for stricter punishments. A Sentencing …

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Utah Nonprofit to Turn Surrendered Firearms into Garden Tools

Gun violence has become an epidemic across America, leaving many people frightened and wondering what can be done about it. A Utah group is taking …

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The Utah Legislature passed a series of bills in 2017 to reform the state's juvenile detention system. (Jan Andersen/Adobe Stock
Study Finds Flaws in How States Manage Juvenile-Justice System

America locked up almost a quarter-million children in 2019, according to the report, "Too Many Closed Doors," from The Sentencing Project. The …

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Across the United States, 46 states have laws allowing for harsher punishment for crimes based on bias. (Ludk/Adobe Stock)
Report: Utah Could Improve Its Hate-Crime Laws

SALT LAKE CITY - With rising numbers of people targeted in hate crimes and related violence, a new report analyzes the hate-crime laws in each state…

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A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know
Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

SALT LAKE CITY -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

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Utah lawmakers will see a slew of bills this session addressing police behavior, including one that would prevent officers from using additional force against someone who's been subdued. (Adobe Stock)
Police Reform On Docket in Utah Legislature

SALT LAKE CITY -- Police reform will be a top priority when the Utah Legislature opens next Tuesday, and groups are pressing lawmakers to pass more …

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Studies show that in Salt Lake County, pre-trial detainees spend an average of 128 days in jail before their case goes to trial. (Victor Moussa/Adobe Stock)
Nonprofit Group Aims to Eliminate Utah Cash-Bail System

SALT LAKE CITY -- Four of every five people currently sitting in Salt Lake County jails haven't been convicted of a crime, but are waiting there to …

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Utah's prison population peaked in 2013, but has seen a decline after the state passed some criminal-justice reforms in 2015. (meesh/Flickr)
Report: After 2015 Reforms, Utah Could Reduce Prison Population Even Further

SALT LAKE CITY – If Utah continues to reduce its prison population, taxpayers could save as much as $250 million, according to a new report …

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Under Utah's 2015 criminal justice reforms, the percentage of the prison population serving time for nonviolent offenses shrank from 40 percent to 32 percent. (Keith Allison/Flickr)
UT Reforms Successfully Reduced Prison Population, Data Shows

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah's prison population is now well below where it had been projected to be by this time, according to new data The Pew …

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