by Anthony Vibbard There are four main approaches to administering criminal justice; 1) Deterrence, 2) Restraint, 3) Retribution, and 4) Rehabilitation. Every criminal justice system uses some combination but over the years, trial and error throughout the 50 states has called into question the effectiveness of each. Making sure Wyoming's focus is o...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff Be careful where you're spreading holiday cheer this season. You could wind up in the slammer for six months or pay up to $750 in fines. According to an ordinance approved by the City of Cheyenne in 1897, it's technically unlawful to Christmas carol without a permit. The 120-year-old law isn't just a prime example of ...

Anthony appeared on KGAB Radio to discuss four theories of criminal justice: Deterrence, Restraint, Retribution, and Rehabilitation. He and host, Gary Freeman, hashed out the good and bad of each theory and how they are addressed by Wyoming's proposed Criminal Justice Reform legislation. 

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff Criminal justice reform legislation will be on the agenda in the upcoming 2017 Wyoming Legislative General Session. Much has been said about criminal justice reform and its potential to save taxpayer dollars. The conversation typically revolves around lowering administrative costs, downsizing staff, and avoiding futur...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff Comprehensive criminal justice reform could increase public safety, save millions of dollars, and give each non-violent offender a second chance. Over 95% of those incarcerated in Wyoming will eventually be released from prison, so we must consider what to do with these individuals while they are in the state's custod...

by Stephen Klein Wyoming's reform of civil asset forfeiture, which passed unanimously in the 2016 Budget Session, went into effect on July 1. Already, the reform has lived up to its name, which is illustrated by comparing two cash seizure cases—one that began before the reform, and one after. Asset forfeiture is a process by which law enforcement s...

by Stephen Klein In the Fall of 2013, I attended a presentation from the Cheyenne Police Department on marijuana enforcement in the city after Colorado's enactment of its recreational marijuana law the previous year. Chief Brian Kozak was matter-of-fact, and was not there to advocate but to simply update the audience. This was not, however, the pos...

by Benjamin Barr More discontent emerges out of Wyoming's Democratic Party caucuses, where Hillary Clinton obtained most of the state delegates even after losing the popular vote to Bernie Sanders. This newest wave of anger and confusion over caucuses and primaries is part of a national trend. Last month, Donald Trump threatened a lawsuit when, aft...

by Stephen Klein In two important rulings from the Texas Supreme Court on April 15, the court assured the effectiveness of the state's Citizens Participation Act (TCPA), which was enacted in 2011. These cases, AgendaWise v. Abraham and Sullivan v. Abraham, affirmed the dismissal of two defamation actions brought by a public figure against an activi...

by Stephen Klein The U.S. Department of Justice recently resumed the Equitable Sharing Program, which allows state police agencies to collect civil asset forfeiture funds under federal instead of state law by cooperating with federal drug enforcement. All too often, civil forfeiture laws allow for the government to seize and permanently keep allege...