17 Aug

Posted at 10:46h in Featured, Impact Globally, Implement Strategically, Improve Lives, Latest News, News Archives, Strategic Plan, Work Together
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The Utah Department of Corrections is proud to announce strategic appointments that underscore our commitment to fostering excellence and innovation within our team.  The Department is excited to introduce the following individuals to key leadership roles: Rebecca Brown - Deputy Executive Director: Bringing a wealth of experience from her tenure at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, including her recent role as Assistant Deputy Director, Rebecca Brown joins us as Deputy Executive Director. Her involvement with a local community non-profit organization, which included significant work at the Salt Lake County Jail, demonstrates her deep commitment to our mission. Rebecca will officially assume her responsibilities on September 5, 2023. Jared Garcia - Deputy Executive Director: With over two decades of public safety service, including leadership positions within the Department of Public Safety and his most recent role as Chief of Police in Moab, Jared Garcia is appointed as Deputy Executive Director. Jared's extensive background in law enforcement positions him well to contribute to our goals. His official start date is October 1, 2023. Glen Mills - Director of Communications and Government Relations: Drawing from a distinguished career as a main news anchor, chief political correspondent, and host of Inside Utah Politics with ABC4, Glen Mills assumes the role of Director of Communications and Government Relations. His expertise in communications and public affairs, developed over more than twenty years, will play a pivotal role in advancing our department's visibility and outreach. Glen will officially begin on September 5, 2023. Eric Hutchings - Director of Legislative Affairs and Policy: With a robust legislative background, having served in the Utah State House of Representatives from 2001 to 2020, Eric Hutchings steps into the role of Director of Legislative Affairs and Policy. His extensive involvement in committees related to criminal justice and corrections positions him as a valuable asset in shaping policies that drive positive change. Eric's official start date is August 28, 2023. “These appointments mark a significant step towards our continued growth and excellence. Each individual brings unique skills and insights that will undoubtedly contribute to the success of our mission,” said UDC Executive Director, Brian Redd.  “We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jim Hudspeth and Chyleen Richey for their exemplary service as Deputy Executive Directors. We congratulate Jim on his well-earned retirement and express our appreciation for Chyleen's impactful contributions within our department and the criminal justice system. Chyleen and our leadership will engage in ongoing discussions about her evolving role within the organization.”    ...

02 Aug

Posted at 22:11h in Impact Globally, Improve Lives, Latest News, News Archives, Strategic Plan, Work Together
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[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 her life around for the better. Topics of discussion include the availability of education and programming within our facilities and Stevoni's transition from being under the supervision of AP&P to attending college and eventually landing as the Parole Access to Recovery Program (PATR) administrator and acting as a role model for individuals in situations similar to her own. Listen to the full podcast here.   Andrew Damas, Communications Office...

18 Jul

Posted at 22:13h in Hot Topics, Impact Globally, Implement Strategically, Improve Lives, Latest News, News Archives, Strategic Plan, Work Together
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[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 this newer housing model. Curious to find out more? You can listen to the whole interview here....

06 Jul

Posted at 21:30h in Featured, Impact Globally, Improve Lives, Latest News, Strategic Plan, Work Together
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The first high school graduation ceremony since 2020 was held recently at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison. Officials from the Central Utah Academy celebrated not only the 29 graduates from the Class of 2023, but also took the time to highlight the 14 graduates from 2021 and the 16 from 2022. The pandemic caused challenges, officials noted, but students overcame them to be where they were today – wearing graduation regalia and accepting diplomas. “This is a testament to your fortitude,” said Ralph Squire, Superintendent of the South Sanpete School District, which operates Central Utah Academy. During his speech, Guy Gabaldon, 49, challenged his fellow graduates to “never stop learning.” “This is just the beginning to a new chapter in our lives,” he added. “Good luck to you all.” Anthony Blauer, a counselor at the academy, read the graduates a poem about wreckers and builders, stating that he saw those gathered this day were the latter. “You guys have all shown to me that you’re a builder,” he said. “You’re building your own lives.” The Utah Department of Corrections operates CUCF and the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City. In addition to high school courses, both facilities offer technical and college courses to incarcerated individuals. CUCF houses up to 1,800 male inmates. We want to thank all UDC staff for encouraging incarcerated individuals and providing the means for them to pursue education while under our supervision. We also want to extend a thank you to our legislators. Your continued support makes these programs possible.   Liam Truchard, Communications Specialist...

06 Jul

Posted at 21:26h in Featured, Impact Globally, Implement Strategically, Improve Lives, Invest in Staff, Latest News, Strategic Plan, Work Together
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The Utah Department of Corrections hosted Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson at the Utah State Correctional Facility on Thursday, June 29. Her visit provided valuable insights into our operations and a chance to showcase our commitment to public safety and rehabilitation. We were grateful that Lt. Gov. Henderson joined us for this visit. It underscores the importance of collaboration and partnership in achieving our shared goal of a safer and more rehabilitative justice system. Stay tuned for more updates on our initiatives and efforts to promote public safety, rehabilitation, and successful reentry. Together, we can positively impact the lives of our staff, individuals under our care, and the communities we serve. Andrew Damas, Communications Office...

10 May

Posted at 10:34h in Improve Lives, Latest News, News Archives, Strategic Plan, Work Together
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On Thursday, May 4, 2023, Dave Durocher, executive director of The Other Side Academy and former TEDx speaker, addressed approximately 150 incarcerated individuals in the chapel of the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison.  During the hour-long event, Durocher spoke about his early life choices that led him to his first two-year term of incarceration, followed by behaviors in adulthood that led to additional sentences, totalling 21 years of prison time. After being sentenced to 22 more years, Durocher's desire to change granted him the opportunity to instead participate in a two-year, resident-run program called Delancey Street, where he stayed for eight years. Durocher shared how he managed the Los Angeles facility for the last five years of his stay and the many values he learned during his time at Delancey Street, expounding especially on accountability, learning how to successfully live in mainstream society, and how each person has the ability to change if they are willing to be honest with themselves and put in the work. During the last 30 minutes of his presentation, Durocher focused on fielding questions from the incarcerated individuals and spoke with them about The Other Side Academy, which is similar to Delancey Street....

04 May

Posted at 09:34h in Improve Lives, Latest News, News Archives, Strategic Plan, Work Together
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Salt Lake Community College students finished up their academic year with a presentation to UDC staff members highlighting areas where they believe improvements could be made.  Incarcerated students participating in a communication class through Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) recently presented ideas regarding improvements that could be made at the Utah State Correctional Facility (USCF) in Salt Lake City.  SLCC’s Communications 1010 class highlights the elements of effective communication. The class primarily focuses on communication principles and practice applied in interpersonal, group, written, electronic, and oral presentation assignments.  The main presentation to officials with the Utah Department of Corrections focused on the movement of incarcerated individuals within female housing in the Dell Facility at USCF. Three other areas were also briefly highlighted, including providing each incarcerated individual an additional bin for food, having “natural light” moments, and requesting the opportunity for incarcerated individuals to share photos with their families.  The class was led by Norman Zurn, who has taught for more than 40 years at both the former Utah State Prison in Draper and USCF.  Zurn told the audience before the presentations kicked off that this was an opportunity for students to practice their newly minted communications skills. “Whether you take the time to do it is up to you, but what’s important is that we’re here to discuss,” Zurn said. “Please remember that this is difficult for our population to get up and give a presentation in front of an audience.” The first presenters, April Fain and Tuusao Ama, talked about wanting smaller bins for each individual to use for food to prevent pests, mice, and the mixing of their food items with their laundry.  The next presenters, Adrianna Lucero and Desiree Mike, requested that there be an opportunity for incarcerated individuals to have their photo taken and be shared with their families.  “This is my last semester before I graduate,” Lucero said. “It would be so great to share a photo of myself with my family in that setting.”  Heidi Rasmussen and Adrianna Lucero presented on turning off the lights for short periods of time on the weekend to allow for only natural light.  “In a big section where lights are off for a couple hours, it can make things calmer and quieter and a lot of women suffer from anxiety, depression and this could help,” Lucero said. The final presentation was given by Samantha Tuiman and Jennifer Mercier. Their subject focused on the movement of incarcerated individuals at USCF, which includes movement to programming, education, recreation and meals.  Presenters discussed concerns with inconsistency and delays in moves. Their solution was to work with staff to provide incarcerated individuals with more autonomy through a tracking board. They noted a similar system was instituted at the former prison in Draper.  All the presenters – who expressed appreciation for the opportunity to speak – said they recognized that it was ultimately up to the administration to implement their recommendations.  For their part, several staff members expressed their appreciation for the speakers and noted that they looked forward to continuing the conversations.  “We see you, we hear you and we care about you,” said Chyleen Richey, UDC Executive Deputy Director who was in attendance. “ I know that things have been difficult and we are trying our very best, but we know that we can do better. I so appreciate you coming up with solutions and putting yourselves out there.”  According to David Bokovoy, director of prison education for SLCC, they anticipate a 93 percent completion rate for women participating in SLCC classes at USCF.   “I think that is something to feel good about and celebrate,” Bokovoy said. “I’m proud of you and I think our future is bright. There is a lot of work to still be done, but there are people who truly care.” . . . ...

26 Apr

Posted at 10:38h in Hot Topics, Implement Strategically, Improve Lives, Invest in Staff, Latest News, News Archives, Strategic Plan, Uncategorized, Work Together
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Mosquitoes have been a concern for the Utah State Correctional Facility (USCF) in Salt Lake since July 2022, when the facility began housing incarcerated individuals. While mosquitoes and other biting insects are always a nuisance in remote wetland areas, such as the site that USCF occupies, the influx of incarcerated individuals, UDC staff, and the facility’s infrastructure have all acted as attractants for even more mosquitoes. This makes abatement efforts essential for maintaining the well-being and safety of our incarcerated population and staff. Thanks to the support of Utah’s legislators, $300,000 was approved this year in additional funds to address mosquito abatement at USCF.  UDC’s facilities team – which maintains the Department’s facilities – and the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District (SLCMAD) have stepped in to provide assistance and expertise. The district’s experience has been crucial in helping the UDC develop an effective abatement plan. Earlier this year, UDC communications specialist Liam Truchard spoke in-depth with Salt Lake City Abatement’s education specialist, Michele Rehebin, along with UDC’s Facilities Director, Shawn Anderson.  “Collaboration is the big key,” said Rehebin. “We are communicating with everybody to make sure we each know what we are supposed to be doing and how we can accomplish these different types of activities.” You can hear the full discussion on the UDC’s Youtube page here: https://youtu.be/X4n49Q9mnj0 As temperatures rise and standing water collects around the facility, the mosquito problem is expected to become more severe. One of the most important steps in the abatement process is larviciding. According to the National Institute of Health, larviciding refers to the regular application of chemical or microbial insecticides to water bodies or water containers to kill the aquatic immature forms of the mosquito (the larvae and pupae).  Training will be provided to staff, who will be carrying out the process. Larvicide will be used in storm drains throughout USCF, killing mosquito larvae before they can grow into adults. Another method in the abatement plan is the implementation of traps on facility grounds. The SLCMAD is identifying species and potential breeding sites at the facility and surrounding areas. The elimination of standing water sources like puddles, ponds, and drainages should be an effective way to reduce the source of mosquitoes. “Mosquito abatement is a critical component of public health, especially in areas with particularly large mosquito populations,” said Spencer Turley, assistant deputy executive director with UDC. “The collaboration between SLCMAD and USCF staff is an excellent example of how agencies can work together to address public health concerns. We truly value this partnership and the positive impact it will have on our facility, staff, and incarcerated population.” As the spring and summer seasons approach, mosquito abatement efforts will continue to be a priority at the USCF. With the combined efforts of the UDC and SLCMAD, officials hope that the mosquito problem will be effectively controlled, and incarcerated individuals and staff can enjoy a safe and healthy environment. After approval last year through both UDC’s medical and prison operations teams, mosquito repellant continues to be available for incarcerated individuals through commissary. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4n49Q9mnj0[/embedyt]...

14 Apr

Posted at 12:50h in Improve Lives, Invest in Staff, Latest News, News Archives, Strategic Plan, Work Together
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Dr. Kim Michelson, former State Dental Director and current clinical dentist for the Utah Department of Corrections, has recently been recognized by the Utah Dental Association with a Distinguished Service Award! Dr. Michelson served with the Utah Department of Health from 2009 to March 2022, striving to improve dental care for all of Utah, especially for the underserved. 12 of his 13 years with them were full–time, where he served in various public health dentistry settings, including nine years as the State Dental Director. He worked with CMS, CDC, UDA, the Utah Oral Health Coalition, and other boards and committees, is a co-author of the "2015–2016 Oral Health Status of Utah's Children" report, and served as the president of the Salt Lake District Dental Society with the UDA from 2013 to 2014 and served on their board from 2007 to 2014. He is also a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.   "Dr. Michelson is a key component to the dental team," said Dr. Marcus Wisner, Dental Director for the UDC. "His ability to handle the most difficult clinical situations is inspiring. His steady demeanor and willingness to help wherever needed have proven essential to our success. Dr. Michelson joined us before our move from Draper to USCF. He was responsible for keeping the dental clinics operational during the move. He also serves as our in-house space expert – as in NASA and SpaceX."   Congratulations to Dr. Michelson for receiving this well-deserved award!...

22 Mar

Posted at 12:58h in Featured, Impact Globally, Implement Strategically, Improve Lives, Latest News, News Archives, Strategic Plan, Work Together
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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 Utah Department of Corrections. In 2021, admissions from parole violators represented about two-thirds (67%) of all admissions to prison, while admissions from probation made up 18% of admissions. “We are excited to help these individuals be better equipped for success when they return to their communities,” said Brian Nielson, executive director with the Utah Department of Correction. “We are grateful for the collaboration with the Davis County Sheriff’s Office, and we look forward to expanding these opportunities in other areas of the state in the future.” Data shows that parole violators returning to prison on technical violations stay on average for eight months. The added programming and reentry services will address their core needs within a six month timeframe. “Oftentimes our standard programs for addressing criminogenic needs take longer than the average stay of someone returning for a parole violation,” said Lena Gustafson, the deputy programming director with the Utah Department of Corrections. “Corrections offers so much to every individual we supervise based on their assessed needs, and we’re excited to add more programming and reentry services to our repertoire to address those returning for a short stay for parole violations.” The core program that will be offered–Living in Balance–is customizable, comprehensive, and evidence-based, and takes approximately six months to complete. Customizable: Designed to be effective in both group and individual settings, it can be used in all levels of care and program types. It is designed so that clients can enter the program at any point in the cycle of sessions. Comprehensive: There are 47 sessions, each covering one specific topic. Clients are taught information about treatment and recovery, skills to handle feelings and emotions, information about preventing relapse, practical living skills, and how to manage distorted thinking and behaviors. Evidence-based: Developed by Danya International and tested as part of a NIDA-funded project, Living in Balance is a clinically validated, evidence-based program that has been proven to retain clients in treatment and reduce alcohol and other drug use. Davis Behavioral Health, which contracts with the Davis County Sheriff’s Office, will help to administer the support and classes specializing in mental health and peer support resources. "We're excited to partner with the Department of Corrections in this very important endeavor,” said Chief Arnold Butcher with Davis County Sheriff’s Office. “We believe this is a great opportunity to enhance the programs already offered at our facility. The Living in Balance curriculum will enhance safety throughout our community as we can work with parole offenders much sooner.” Other services provided will specifically address reentry needs, such as navigating parole, improving financial literacy, enhancing their work portfolio, resume, interviewing skills, and partnering with the Department of Workforce Services and Vocational Rehabilitation Services for other relevant needs....

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