Media and Public Information
Covering Corrections
The Utah Department of Corrections strives to maintain accountability to the public while also operating safe and secure facilities for staff, offenders, volunteers, visitors and others we interact with on a daily basis. Below is information about our policies and practices for disseminating information and allowing media access to our facilities.
Records requests
NOTICE FOR MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, DENTAL, AND VISION RECORDS: As of July 1, 2023, Prison Medical Staff have transferred from the Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The UDC no longer has the authority to release medical, mental health, dental, or vision records. Individuals seeking these types of records must now submit a request directly to the Correctional Health Services Division on the Department GRAMA Records Portal. You will select "Correctional Health Services Division GRAMA Request" as the service request type.
Corrections provide public records upon request in line with the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). Corrections deals with certain issues that exempt records from release due to safety and security or privacy concerns, but otherwise the Department strives to function in a transparent manner that instills public trust. Certain information about inmates and offenders under our supervision is available to the general public without a GRAMA request.
Public Information
- Date of Birth
- Legal Status (inmate, parolee, probationer)
- Offender Number
- Housing Location (i.e., Wasatch facility, Davis County Jail)
- Offenses/Sentence Length
- Board Hearing Date
- Parole/Expiration Date (Note: Utah is an indeterminate sentencing state, meaning sentences are given in time ranges rather than specific time periods. For example, an offender convicted of a 3rd-degree felony may receive a sentence of 0 to 5 years.)
- Sentencing Court/Sentencing Date/Case Number
- Prison Photo/Mug Shot
Requests for records or previously compiled data are managed by the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) and must be made in writing.
Please note: if you are seeking to have specific data/statistics compiled or gain informational answers to specific questions about this agency, contact the public information officer. If you are looking for an actual document or a record you believe to be maintained by the department, you can file a GRAMA request. GRAMA specifically pertains to records that are produced and maintained by a governmental agency. A GRAMA request entitles the public to copies of, or access to, records that exist and are used for conducting the public’s business.
Please note: Media should contact the Public Information Officer initially to see if the information sought is available without a formal records request. If you are seeking to have specific data/statistics compiled or gain informational answers to specific questions about this agency, contact the PIO. If you are looking for an actual document or a record you believe to be maintained by the department, you can file a GRAMA request. GRAMA specifically pertains to records that are produced and maintained by a governmental agency. A GRAMA request entitles the public to copies of, or access to, records that exist and are used for conducting the public’s business.
What is GRAMA?
The Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) is a comprehensive state law that deals with the management of government records. The law outlines exactly who has access to specific records while detailing the process for requesting such information. GRAMA is an attempt to balance the public’s constitutional right of access to information regarding government conduct, individuals’ constitutional rights to privacy and the public policy and safety interest in allowing the government to restrict access to certain records for the overall good.
Requesting an interview with an inmate
If this is your first time requesting an interview, please provide by email ([email protected]) your media affiliation and contact information. You may be asked to provide your business card or other credential to verify your status as a member of a news media outlet. Please also include the name of the offender whom you would like to interview. Also, be as specific as possible regarding the intended topic or reason for interview so the offender can fully consider the request in the proper context.
Please note: The Utah Department of Corrections does not allow documentary-style filming (movies, television shows, etc.) or still photography within our facilities. The Department also does not allow on-camera interviews with individual inmates except for program-related stories for safety and security reasons. The Department may make video recordings of inmate activities available to the media for general use via its social media channels and upon request.
The Department has stock video footage and still photographs, including images of correctional facilities and programs, that are available to verified news media upon request.
Prison Access
Our facilities (including community correctional centers) are secure, tightly controlled environments. To request entry to any of these facilities for the purposes of a news story, please contact the Communications Director. You will be asked to provide your full name, date of birth, and driver license number at least five business days in advance for background check purposes. Clearances must be obtained for each visit. Media members are asked to abide by the dress code that applies to all visitors.
Tours
The Department’s two-pronged mission is to help offenders succeed and to maintain public safety. The Department is able to provide tours on a limited basis in keeping with that mission to help foster understanding of what happens in prison or during probation and parole. For additional information regarding tours or about prison life separate from a tour, please contact the Communications Director listed above.