Karen Tapahe portrait

Karen Tapahe
Public Information Officer 
[email protected]
1.801.560.7608

Welcome to the Utah Department of Corrections press shop. Here you can stay up-to-date on press releases, blog posts and more communication coming directly from our office.

UDC News

Featured image for “Notice: Tablets For Incarcerated Unavailable”
January 30, 2026

Notice: Tablets For Incarcerated Unavailable

Please be advised that electronic tablet services are unavailable to incarcerated individuals at our facilities at this time. We appreciate your patience and will provide a status update as soon as service is restored.
Featured image for “UCI Offering Quarter 1 Care Packages”
January 30, 2026

UCI Offering Quarter 1 Care Packages

Quarter 1 packages, part of the Utah Department of Corrections’ Quarterly Package Program, runs through February 2026, offering family and friends the chance to send care packages to inmates. Snacks, pastries, ready-to-eat meals and much more — some not sold in regular commissary — are available. By utilizing the approved item list, you can deliver practical gifts that enhance the
Featured image for “Tech, Teamwork, and K-9 Team Up to Stop Drug-Infused Paper From Entering State Prisons Via Mail”
January 24, 2026

Tech, Teamwork, and K-9 Team Up to Stop Drug-Infused Paper From Entering State Prisons Via Mail

The Utah Department of Corrections’ (UDC) recent investment in technology, law enforcement professionals, and drug-sniffing K-9s have paid off with the arrest of a woman suspected of planning to mail hundreds of sheets of drug-infused paper to individuals housed at Utah’s correctional facilities, the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, and the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison.
Featured image for “Ameelio Mail To Cease Operations In May”
January 8, 2026

Ameelio Mail To Cease Operations In May

The Utah Department of Corrections has confirmed that Ameelio Mail, one of the three previously approved mail providers to the UDC, will cease operations May 29, 2026. “We’re proud of our partnership with you, allowing families and friends to affordably connect with your incarcerated loved ones via postal mail since 2020,” reads a post on Ameelio’s website announcing the decision
Featured image for “Update About Quarterly Packages For Incarcerated Individuals”
January 7, 2026

Update About Quarterly Packages For Incarcerated Individuals

We would like to provide an update regarding the delivery of 4th Quarter packages. While we understand many look forward to these arriving around the holidays, please keep in mind that the 4th Quarter cycle is a standard quarterly window and not a specific holiday service. The ordering window closed on December 4th, and the vendor shipments arrived at our
Featured image for “New Mailing System Coming January 5”
December 21, 2025

New Mailing System Coming January 5

To improve communication efficiency, safety, and reliability, the Utah Department of Corrections is moving to a new mail system for incarcerated individuals. Effective January 5, 2026, all personal (non-legal) mail will be processed and delivered directly by UDC mail processing centers, replacing the current third-party service. To ensure proper delivery, beginning January 5, 2026, all incoming mail must be sent to the
Featured image for “State Agencies Unveil First Parole Conditions Revision In Years”
December 9, 2025

State Agencies Unveil First Parole Conditions Revision In Years

Collaborative Effort Between Utah Board of Pardons and Parole (BOPP) and Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) Focuses on Clarity, Consistency, and Public Safety Salt Lake City – Dec. 9, 2025 – The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole (BOPP) and the Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) have finalized a significant revision to the state’s parole conditions. This is the first time the conditions
Featured image for “Inmate Ralph L. Menzies Passes Away”
November 26, 2025

Inmate Ralph L. Menzies Passes Away

The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) is notifying the public that inmate Ralph L. Menzies passed away from presumed natural causes at a local hospital at 1:45 p.m. today, November 26, 2025. He was 67 years old at the time of his death. The Department issued this public notification after contacting Mr. Menzies’ next of kin, and the family of
Featured image for “UDC Hosting Second Chance Career Fair”
November 3, 2025

UDC Hosting Second Chance Career Fair

The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) will host a Second Chance Career Fair from 8 a.m. to noon, Friday, November 7, at the Fortitude Treatment Center, 1747 S 900 W, in Salt Lake City. The event is designed to connect individuals on probation or parole with second chance employers — businesses committed to providing meaningful job opportunities to those working
Featured image for “Citizens’ Academy Graduates Class No. 2”
October 20, 2025

Citizens’ Academy Graduates Class No. 2

After more than two months of “training,” 15 participates graduated for the Utah Department of Corrections’ second Citizens’ Academy. UDC Deputy Executive Director Spencer Turley gave the keynote address, engaging with the group about what they learned during the training and what they will take away from the experience. Angela Johnson was the class speaker. The comprehensive 10-week program is