Unconstitutional Penalties Crime SceneUncategorized

Unconstitutional Penalties

When we hear of unconstitutional penalties, most of us immediately think of the the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against "cruel and unusual punishments." But a statute itself can be unconstitutional if the penalties imposed are disparate and there is no reasonable legislative objective to warrant the disparate treatment of offenders. In Utah, "ll…
February 1, 2016
Public Intoxication Crime Scene

Public Intoxication

Everybody knows (or should) that you cannot drive a car while intoxicated. However, many people are surprised to find that Utah, like most states, places restrictions on where you can drink and how much. Utah law prohibits you from consuming liquor in a public building, park, stadium, or on a…
January 26, 2016