| Prison Libraries Receive $20,000 in Grant Funding |  |
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DRAPER, Utah — The economic picture just got a little better for the state’s prison libraries, with the awarding of $20,000 in grant money to improve inmate education efforts.
The funding is part of an overall $184,789 awarded in Library Service and Technology Act funds to Utah libraries.
The Utah State Prison will receive $10,000 to purchase literacy materials in a variety of subject areas for use by inmates housed in Draper. The prison literacy program helps inmates develop the skills necessary to ultimately obtain their high school diploma.
Approximately 65 percent of incoming inmates lack a high school diploma, while a staggering 80 percent have reading, math or language skills below a ninth-grade level. When these skills are increased, offenders have a better chance of avoiding criminal behavior when released from prison.
Central Utah Correctional Facility will also receive $10,000 to supplement the Gunnison prison’s library system. Approximately half of the funds will be used to purchase books, and the other half for software and equipment upgrades.
The mission of the prison library system is to provide high quality library services and materials that satisfy the educational, therapeutic and recreational needs of inmate patrons.
“Budgets are strained everywhere, so we are grateful for funding that allows us to work toward our goals to educate offenders and improve their chances of success upon release,” said Christie Jensen, library director at the Utah State Prison.
The Library Services and Technology Act, the major grant program for libraries, is provided through the Institute of Museum and Library Services and is administered in Utah by the Utah State Library.
| Corrections to Receive $1 Million Stimulus Funding to Help Offenders Find Jobs | |
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DRAPER, Utah — The Utah Department of Corrections is in line to receive nearly $1 million in federal stimulus funding to help offenders find and keep meaningful employment, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
The Department plans to use the funds to create an Offender Employment Coordination program, which will connect offenders on probation or parole with private and public employers across the state. The money will allow Corrections to hire as many as 12 full-time employees within the Division of Adult Probation and Parole, primarily agents who will develop relationships with local employers and match those employers’ needs with job opportunities for offenders. The agents will serve as liaisons between offenders and employers, providing a constant contact for both parties.
Research indicates offenders who are engaged in meaningful employment are less likely to return to prison for a parole violation. A staggering 80 percent of offenders who return to prison are unemployed at the time of revocation of their parole. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for offenders to overcome the stigma of their criminal past and find work to support themselves and their families.
“This funding will allow the Department of Corrections to continue its focus on helping offenders succeed, as well as provide employment opportunities for our staff at a time when budget cuts have forced the loss of many positions within our agency,” Executive Director Tom Patterson said. “We are grateful for this funding, which is really a win for Corrections staff, offenders and continued public safety throughout Utah.”
Placement of the agents will be determined based on need, including total offender population and the unemployment rate in each of Adult Probation and Parole’s six regions across the state.
The Offender Employment Coordination grant is part of an overall $9.9 million in Recovery Act funds that will come to Utah for criminal justice related programs. The money will flow through the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and is subject to legislative approval.
| Utah State Prison Inmates Graduate High School | |
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DRAPER, Utah — When her 12-year-old daughter started struggling in school, Melissa Christiansen knew it was time to step up and set a good example by completing her own education.
“I wanted to give her a reason to be proud of me,” Christiansen said of her daughter.
And she has. Next week, the 32-year-old high school dropout will finally receive her diploma, joining the largest graduating class the prison has ever seen. Nearly 350 offenders will graduate from South Park Academy, a high school operated entirely inside the fences by the Jordan School District.
“I really feel that education is the stepping stone to changing our lives,” said Christiansen, who has spent nearly a decade in and out of prison and, until now, refused to take part in any available educational opportunities. After spending most of those years in a maximum-security cell with very little privileges, Christiansen “finally took the initiative to change my life.”
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. School officials asked Christiansen to address her fellow graduates at a Wednesday, June 3, ceremony at the Utah State Prison. Her efforts have also prompted others to pursue their education behind bars.
“I basically said to them, ‘If I can do it, all you guys can, too,’” she said.
South Park Academy will honor its graduates in two separate ceremonies at the Draper prison on Wednesday, June 3. Members of the media are invited to attend an 8:30 a.m. ceremony inside the Timpanogos gym. Interested reporters and photographers should contact the Department of Corrections by Monday, June 1, to arrange the necessary security clearances.
| YPREP Office Helps Female Offenders Transition Into Society | |
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DRAPER, Utah — Rebuilding a life after prison is no easy feat. It takes dedication and a true desire never to return, as well as help navigating the complex system of community resources.
The Utah State Prison’s YPREP program — which stands for “Your Parole Requires Extensive Preparation” — is designed to ensure women’s success upon their release from prison. The Department of Corrections will celebrate the prison’s YPREP office with an open house on Wednesday, June 17, featuring community advocate Pamela Atkinson as keynote speaker.
YPREP prepares female offenders for a successful transition into society by coordinating efforts with allied agencies and community partners to address issues such as housing, employment, transportation, childcare and health care. Proper planning in each of these areas is critical to success on parole, said Craig Burr, director of the Division of Programming for the Utah Department of Corrections.
“We owe it to these women to make sure they have access to the resources necessary to reconstruct their lives — to find stable housing and employment, to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy,” Burr said. “When they succeed outside these fences, the entire community benefits.”
Part of that process is to provide support to offenders’ children, which begins during incarceration. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah was one of the first providers to become actively involved with YPREP, and offers female offenders a referral program to pair their children with mentors in the community.
“These women really seem to instantly grasp the value of placing additional positive mentors in the lives of their children,” said Michele Beckstrand with Big Brothers Big Sisters, which has matched 16 children who were referred to the agency by their incarcerated mothers or grandmothers. Another 30 children are currently enrolled and waiting to be matched with mentors.
Members of the media are invited to attend the YPREP open house at the Draper site’s Timpanogos housing unit at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Interested reporters and photographers should contact the Department of Corrections to arrange the necessary security clearances.
| Prison dormitory quarantined over suspected cases of H1N1 virus | |
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DRAPER, Utah — A 50-bed dormitory unit at the Utah State Prison is under quarantine as medical officials await the results of tests for the H1N1 virus.
Three male inmates from the Promontory housing facility have been tested for the virus, also known as swine flu. Results from those tests, which were delivered directly to the Utah Department of Health, are expected within five days.
Prison medical staff became aware of the potential illnesses late Wednesday when the inmates reported experiencing flu-like symptoms, including sore throat, fever and a cough. The three men are housed in the same dormitory. Prison officials immediately placed the entire unit on quarantine, as the men have had close contact with their fellow dorm mates.
Three other inmates at the Draper prison are suspected to have the virus. They have been isolated and are under observation in the prison’s infirmary.
One inmate at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison has exhibited flu-like symptoms. That offender has also isolated and was tested for the H1N1 virus, and the test delivered to the state lab.
At this point, no Utah state inmates have been confirmed to have the H1N1 virus.
“It is crucial that we properly identify those offenders who may have been exposed and administer the appropriate medical care while preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus inside the facilities,” said Dr. Richard Garden, director of the Department’s Clinical Services Bureau.
The H1N1 virus has a 43 percent transmission rate for those living in the same household.
The Department of Corrections is working closely with the Utah Department of Health and the Salt Lake County Health Department to identify possible cases of H1N1 inside the state prisons.
The Promontory housing facility is a 400-bed programming unit at the Draper prison. Movement into and out of the facility has been limited to necessary medical transports only. Court hearings and Board of Pardons and Parole hearings for men housed in the unit will be rescheduled, and all visiting and programming at the facility has been cancelled until further notice. The remaining 350 offenders will be allowed to participate in outside recreation.
Visiting in other areas of the Utah State Prison will continue at this time. However, all incoming visitors will continue to be screened for flu-like symptoms and those experiencing any symptoms will not be allowed to visit.
Although none of the suspected H1N1 cases have been confirmed, Corrections officials are prepared for the possibility of a more widespread outbreak of the virus at the Utah State Prison. Officers and medical staff who come into contact with possibly infected offenders must wear masks at all times, and Corrections staff who feel ill have been instructed to stay home. Additionally, housing units where offenders have exhibited symptoms will be disinfected, with special attention paid to doorknobs, restrooms and common areas. Offenders and staff are also being reminded to be vigilant about practicing good hygiene habits and hand washing.
| Offenders test negative for H1N1 virus, quarantine lifted | |
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DRAPER, Utah — Tests for several Utah State Prison inmates suspected of having the H1N1 virus have returned negative results.
The results prompted Corrections officials to lift the quarantine on a dormitory in the Promontory housing facility this afternoon. The quarantine was enacted on June 17 as a precaution after several men in the 50-bed dormitory began exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
“The logistics of a prison environment, with offenders living in such close quarters, require that we be vigilant in protecting the health of offenders and Corrections staff,” said Corrections Executive Director Tom Patterson. “This experience provided a good drill in responding to threats of infectious conditions inside the facilities.”
The H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu, has a 43 percent transmission rate for those living in the same household.
Medical officials are still awaiting the results of tests for the H1N1 virus on one other Utah State Prison inmate, who has been housed in the infirmary after arriving at the Draper facility with flu-like symptoms. A final offender, currently housed at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, also tested negative for the H1N1 virus.
The Department of Corrections will continue to work closely with the Utah Department of Health and the Salt Lake County Health Department to identify possible cases of H1N1 inside the state prisons.
Visiting at the Utah State Prison and Central Utah Correctional Facility have resumed normal operations. However, all incoming visitors will continue to be screened for flu-like symptoms and those experiencing any symptoms will not be allowed to visit.
Other services, including programming and court and state Board of Pardons and Parole hearings, have also returned to normal operations.
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Contact PIO Angie Welling at (801) 545-5536 or by awelling@utah.gov.