
RIchard Piatt
Director of Public Affairs
[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.

March 22, 2023
UDC and Davis County Expand Programming and Reentry Services for Parole Violators
The Utah Department of Corrections, in coordination with Davis County Sheriff’s Office, announced the expansion of opportunities for programming and reentry services to address individuals’ risk factors when they return to prison for parole violations. The goal is to reduce core criminogenic risk factors for those who violate parole. Individuals who violate parole represent the largest admission group for the

March 21, 2023
Diesel Brothers Make a Big Landing at Central Utah Correctional Facility
It’s not every day that a reality television star lands a helicopter on prison property, so they can share a message of hope with incarcerated individuals. Actually, it’s never been done in the history of Utah Corrections … as far as we can tell. Incarcerated individuals at the Central Utah Correctional Facility (CUCF) in Gunnison had the privilege of hearing
March 9, 2023
2023 Spring Quarterly Commissary Bags Available Now
The 2023 Spring Quarterly Commissary Bags are now available from the Utah Department of Corrections’ commissary. Once on the site, enter the number of the incarcerated individual or use the search function to find the person by name. From there, you can compile a commissary bag. Please complete your order before March 19, 2023. For questions regarding the process, please

March 1, 2023
Corrections Provides Update on Ongoing Review of Safety and Security at USCF
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWuT7dvIz-U[/embedyt] The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) provided an update today regarding an in-depth, ongoing review of safety and security at the Utah State Correctional Facility (USCF) in Salt Lake City. UDC noted several areas where improvements have already been made, and outlined short-term and long-term goals to ensure safety and security. “The safety of our staff and those

February 22, 2023
Irv Hale Named Deputy Director of Adult Probation and Parole
We’re excited to announce the appointment of Irv Hale as the Deputy Director for Adult Probation and Parole. Irv most recently served as the Region Chief for AP&P in Region IV. He began his career with the Department in 1990 at the Draper prison as a Correctional Officer. He worked in several areas, particularly South Point, and was promoted to

February 16, 2023
USCF extends duration of in-person visits
On March 1, 2023, the Utah State Correctional Facility will change the length of in-person visiting from one (1) hour to two (2) hours. Though there will be fewer visiting sessions, the additional visiting length will allow more visiting hours during the day. More visiting spots per session may be opened as needed due to demand. All offenders will still

February 13, 2023
UDC Welcomes Armanda Mercado as the new Deputy Director of Utah Correctional Industries
Please join us in welcoming Armanda Mercado as the new Deputy Director of Utah Correctional Industries (UCI). Mercado began her career with Corrections in 2009 as an intern with the Sex Offender and Kidnap Registry office, assisting with registrations and the public database. She transferred to UCI in 2014 as an internal auditor and later promoted to Operations Manager, Correctional

February 13, 2023
Author Devery S. Anderson Speaks on Emmitt Till
The Utah Department of Corrections would like to thank Devery S. Anderson, author of the book “Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement,” for speaking with incarcerated individuals at the Utah State Correctional Facility this week. The students are participating in high school education at USCF. Anderson spoke on the history of the
February 8, 2023
UDC Addresses Recent Assaults Against Staff at USCF
Dan Chesnut, Prison Operations Director at the Utah Department of Corrections, provided an update today following three recent assaults against staff at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City. It was followed by a live Q&A via Zoom. “Let me be clear: Staff assaults are not acceptable. Ever,” said Chesnut on the live broadcast. “As we’ve reviewed these

February 3, 2023
Utah Corrections and Attorney General’s Office Team Up to Rescue Sex-Trafficked Girl
Agents from the Utah Department of Corrections’ Division of Adult Probation and Parole have located a missing juvenile girl from Arizona, arresting a Utah man in the process. On Jan. 31, AP&P agents received information from Arizona involving a missing girl and a possible connection to Jordan Sorenson, who was convicted in June 2020 of first-degree felony aggravated sexual extortion