Presented before the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee of the Utah Legislature by Stan Rasmussen, Sutherland Institute vice president.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and good afternoon, Representatives. Stan Rasmussen with Sutherland Institute.

What a privilege it is to speak in favor of this bill and particularly The Other Side Academy. If you have not had an opportunity to get acquainted with them, I encourage you to do so. They are presently located on 700 East and 1100 South in Salt Lake City, in the old Armstrong Mansion. They now have approximately 80 students.

I’ll read a paragraph from a news report that appeared on KSL television in August 2017 – “For some ex-cons, there is hope at Utah’s The Other Side Academy”:

“The Other Side’s businesses include a moving company that’s rated No. 1 in the Salt Lake Valley, a lawn-care service and now the thrift boutique. The ventures all make money, and that is how the program gets by without any government funding.”

Without any government funding – no federal, no state, no county, no city funding.

It is a remarkable organization. You will have an opportunity to hear from some of the leaders in just a moment.

We strongly encourage you to support this bill.