Here’s What Utah’s SWAT Teams Have Been Up To in 2015
Utah is the only state with a law requiring police transparency regarding “forcible entry” (no-knock or knock-and-announce) warrants and the use of SWAT teams. Last year’s report provided the first look into the...
Freed after 13 years of his 55-year sentence for selling marijuana, Weldon Angelos speaks out
Editor’s note: The following is a lightly edited interview with Weldon Angelos, who was recently released from prison after 13 years of a 55-year sentence for selling marijuana while in possession of a firearm. The views...
New Report Shows Why Utah Police and Prosecutors are Taking Property
Utah has a controversial history with civil asset forfeiture—a tool allowing the government to confiscate property from people not charged with, let alone convicted of, a crime. Last Friday, the Commission on Criminal and...
Medical Marijuana Laws Don’t Lead to Increased Teen Use
A new study published in the Lancet medical journal—the most comprehensive study of its kind to date—looks at adolescent marijuana use in states with legalized medical marijuana from 1991 to 2014. Using annual, repeated...
Utah Drug War Reined in by Reduced Penalty Enhancements
We have written previously regarding the recently successful legislative effort to reform Utah’s criminal justice system in Utah. While several aspects received more attention than others—including lowering certain drug...
HB348: Widespread Criminal Justice Reform in Utah
This bill passed the House 72-3 and passed the Senate unanimously. It was subsequently signed into law by Governor Herbert. Libertas Institute supports this bill. Following town hall meetings, research, and significant...