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

January 23, 2023

Honey picked to lead Inmate Placement Program

Randall Honey has been selected as the new Inmate Placement Program Director at the Utah Department of Corrections. Honey began his career in 2004, working in the Uinta facility at the now-closed Utah State Prison in Draper. He promoted to sergeant, moved to the Oquirrh facility, and later became the Security Threat Group Intelligence Coordinator for the Draper facility. In
Featured image for “Prison Clinical Services Moving to DHHS”
December 9, 2022

Prison Clinical Services Moving to DHHS

In an effort to better align governmental services under those agencies best-equipped to oversee them, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will be assuming responsibility for health care in Utah’s prison system beginning July 1, 2023. The Clinical Services Bureau, a roughly 200-employee division of the Utah Department of Corrections, will transition under DHHS as its staff continue
Featured image for “Expanded video visiting offered on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day”
November 29, 2022

Expanded video visiting offered on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

After receiving positive feedback from inmate family and loved ones last year, the Utah Department of Corrections is again offering expanded video visiting opportunities at the Utah State Correctional Facility and the Central Utah Correctional Facility on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The UDC increase in video visiting will happen in all areas of the prisons to provide more inmates
November 15, 2022

2022 Holiday Gift Bags

The 2022 Holiday Gift Bags are now available from the Utah Department of Corrections’ commissary. You can find more details about the program here. This year, the packages consist of food items only. 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
Featured image for “UCI Service Project: Sevier County Backpack Club”
October 27, 2022

UCI Service Project: Sevier County Backpack Club

Incarcerated individuals working in the UCI textile shop produced 100 backpacks for donation to the Sevier County Backpack Club this month. This organization uses backpacks as a foundation to create food kits for children in need around Sevier County. “It really is a cool thing that they do, and we are happy we could be part of it,” said UCI
Featured image for “UPDATED: UDC fielding questions as staff, incarcerated settle in at USCF”
September 19, 2022

UPDATED: UDC fielding questions as staff, incarcerated settle in at USCF

The Utah Department of Corrections shares responses to common questions as staff and incarcerated individuals settle in at the new Utah State Correctional Facility. The first few items are ongoing concerns, while latter items are concerns that have been addressed and resolved. ONGOING FOOD: TIMING With moving to the new facility, we have introduced a new pattern for meals for
Featured image for “Corrections provides update on medications following transition to new records system”
September 2, 2022

Corrections provides update on medications following transition to new records system

With support from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Government Operations (DGO)/Division of Technology Services (DTS); the Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) completed a comprehensive medical records review Thursday. This effort included an assessment and update of every incomplete medical record that came through during a transition to a new Electronic Healthcare Records
Featured image for “UDC Continues to Address Issues with Transition to New Electronic Medical Records System”
August 24, 2022

UDC Continues to Address Issues with Transition to New Electronic Medical Records System

On August 1, Fusion (a vendor contracted with the Utah Department of Corrections) launched a new Electronic Health Records system to help manage care in correctional facilities. Within a matter of days, it became apparent that there were some problems with the roll-out. The scope of those issues is still being uncovered, but a glitch that initially seemed to cause
Featured image for “UDC addressing technical challenges in transition to new electronic records system”
August 19, 2022

UDC addressing technical challenges in transition to new electronic records system

The Utah Department of Corrections was slated in February to migrate to a new electronic records system that will improve operations overall; however due to delays with the contractor, the data migration began during the move to the new prison. We are now experiencing some technical challenges with that transition. Our medical team is working around the clock to address
Featured image for “UDC Completes Transition From Utah State Prison to New Utah State Correctional Facility”
July 15, 2022

UDC Completes Transition From Utah State Prison to New Utah State Correctional Facility

Today, the Utah Department of Corrections completed a historic transfer of incarcerated individuals from Utah State Prison in Draper to the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, marking its official opening.   We are grateful for the law enforcement agencies and other organizations who offered support in making this historic move to the new Utah State Correctional Facility