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 “Visiting Expands to Fremont Housing Unit”
August 16, 2023

Visiting Expands to Fremont Housing Unit

Visiting at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City is expanding to additional housing units, according to Utah Department of Corrections officials. The Fremont housing unit will begin offering tablet visits starting September 1. “It will be open to those who have received and maintained a “B” level privilege and are classified,” said Capt. Tawnya Nicholes, who supervises
August 14, 2023

UPDATE: Operations resume normal with hot water unavailable at identified housing units

Hot water available again at all housing units as of yesterday afternoon (08/15)   Operations resume normal with hot water unavailable at identified housing units A temporary fix has been made regarding the current gas leak. Normal operations have resumed; however, Bear 3, Bear 4 and Green will be without hot water for the time being. UDC’s Facilities team are
Featured image for “Inaugural Sweat Lodge Ceremony at Green”
August 14, 2023

Inaugural Sweat Lodge Ceremony at Green

Thanks to the help of volunteers and incarcerated individuals, the Green housing unit at the Utah State Correctional Facility held its first sweat lodge ceremony recently.  A sweat lodge is a ceremonial structure used by various indigenous cultures for spiritual and healing purposes. It is typically a dome-shaped hut made from natural materials like wood and covered with blankets, skins,
August 3, 2023

The UDC and DHHS Are Hosting a Community Listening Session

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services and UDC are excited to host another community listening event to hear your feedback regarding your experiences with healthcare in Utah’s correctional facilities. If you’d like to prepare for the conversation, here are a few prompts to consider: Describe an instance when the healthcare provided to your loved one under the supervision
Featured image for “Conversations with Corrections: Stevoni Doyle”
August 3, 2023

Conversations with Corrections: Stevoni Doyle

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19CQ0iHDUlk[/embedyt] Stevoni Doyle, a formerly incarcerated individual with the Utah Department of Corrections, shares her story. Doyle stayed in Utah State Prison for 15 months before transferring to federal supervision for four years of total time served. Reflecting on her experiences, Stevoni describes how impactful incarceration was for her and how thankful she is for the opportunity to turn
Featured image for “Virtual Reality Training Pioneers: Utah Correctional Industries Empowers Incarcerated Individuals with Cutting-Edge Technology”
August 3, 2023

Virtual Reality Training Pioneers: Utah Correctional Industries Empowers Incarcerated Individuals with Cutting-Edge Technology

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LATg_N1cPDY[/embedyt] Utah Correctional Industries is one of the first in the nation to bring virtual reality headsets inside a correctional facility, utilizing them to train incarcerated individuals to work in its programs. Done in partnership with New York-based Transfr, which specializes in VR training, UCI is giving men and women opportunities to utilize cutting-edge technology to improve their skills
Featured image for “Memorial Services Held at USCF for K9 Officer Loki”
August 1, 2023

Memorial Services Held at USCF for K9 Officer Loki

Memorial services were held on July 27 and 28 at USCF to honor the life and passing of K-9 Officer Loki. Staff were invited to pay respects to the life and service of our beloved K-9 partner. Loki, born February 2, 2015, was a Belgian Malinois. After being procured by the UDC in 2017, K-9 Officer Loki served admirably for
Featured image for “Scheduled Maintenance at Central Utah Correctional Facility”
July 28, 2023

Scheduled Maintenance at Central Utah Correctional Facility

We have an important announcement regarding scheduled maintenance that will take place at 9 p.m., Tuesday, August 1, at the Central Utah Correctional Facility. Our Facilities team will be working on a necessary fitting for a water softener project, which will require the entire site to go without water for a short period.   Anticipated Duration: Approximately 2 hours Potential Extended
Featured image for “Conversations With Corrections: Structured Housing”
July 19, 2023

Conversations With Corrections: Structured Housing

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19CQ0iHDUlk[/embedyt] In this interview, Lieutenant Aaron Johnson and Sergeant Ray Eberly shed some light on the concept of structured housing at the Utah State Correctional Facility. They discuss how structured housing presents a compelling alternative to traditional maximum security housing approaches, the various processes that help incarcerated individuals succeed in structured housing, and the challenges they’ve faced while implementing
Featured image for “Happy Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week!”
July 18, 2023

Happy Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week!

As National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week approaches, the Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) gears up to host a series of events designed to highlight the crucial work of our dedicated Adult Probation and Parole (AP&P) agents. From July 17th to the 21st, legislators and local media will have the opportunity to witness firsthand the reentry and supervision processes