
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.

March 10, 2026
UDC Now Accepting Applications To Citizens’ Academy
The Utah Department of Corrections is now accepting applications for the Third Annual Citizens’ Academy, running from August to October 2026. Interested parties have until June 1, 2026 to apply. The comprehensive 10-week program is designed to increase the public’s knowledge of the various divisions within the Utah Department of Corrections. Instruction will cover a variety of topics each week,

March 3, 2026
Staff, Incarcerated Workers Complete First Joint ServSafe Certification At USCF
The Utah State Correctional Facility recently expanded workforce training opportunities by hosting its first ServSafe Manager certification course that included both staff and incarcerated workers. Twenty-three students participated in the training, including eight USCF Culinary employees and fifteen incarcerated workers who voluntarily enrolled and paid the $170 course tuition themselves. The program marked the first time incarcerated individuals at USCF

February 15, 2026
30-Year UDC Employee Perishes in Vehicle Accident
The staff at the Utah Department of Corrections are saddened to report the death of Sgt. Robert Hill, who died as the result of a single-vehicle accident near the Utah State Correctional Facility this morning. Sgt. Hill has worked with the Department since 1996, serving in various roles, including the maximum security unit at the Draper facility. He most recently

February 10, 2026
UDC Creates Public Feedback Portal
The Utah Department of Corrections has launched a new public feedback portal on corrections.utah.gov that allows community members to submit questions, concerns, or compliments related to UDC operations and services. This portal is part of the department’s commitment to transparency and continuous operational improvements. It gives the public a clear, consistent way to share feedback and helps the department identify opportunities to

February 9, 2026
Davis Technical College Holds Graduation At USCF
It was a packed house in the visiting room at the Utah State Correctional Facility as 55 students celebrated their graduation from Davis Technical College on Monday, February 9. While the number may seem high, DTC’s Dan Powers, who oversees the school at USCF, said the actual graduation class was 85 strong, with the remaining students having already left incarceration.

February 6, 2026
Update: Tablets Again Available For Incarcerated Individuals
Please be advised that electronic tablet services to incarcerated individuals at our facilities has now been restored. The service was reactivated on Friday, February 6. The Utah Department of Corrections appreciated everyone’s patience and understanding during this outage.

February 2, 2026
Congressional Staffers Visit USCF
Recently, The Utah Department of Corrections was grateful to host Congressional staffers at USCF for an informative tour. Nathan Tenney from Rep. Celeste Maloy’s office, along with Hannah Albin and Conner Haus from Rep. Mike Kennedy’s office, took time out of their day to witness the everyday work UDC is doing. It is an honor to educate our partners on

January 30, 2026
UCI Offering Quarter 1 Care Packages
Quarter 1 packages, part of the Utah Department of Corrections’ Quarterly Package Program, runs through February 2026, offering family and friends the chance to send care packages to inmates. Snacks, pastries, ready-to-eat meals and much more — some not sold in regular commissary — are available. By utilizing the approved item list, you can deliver practical gifts that enhance the

January 29, 2026
WATCH: What Is The New UDC IRIS Center?
The new IRIS Center at the Utah Department of Corrections enhances the department’s efforts to monitor facilities, track reentry, and find opportunities for intervention. IRIS stands for Intelligence, Reentry, Intervention, and Safety. This center is designed to better leverage technology, information and intelligence to keep staff and inmates safe inside of our facilities. You can watch a video on the

January 24, 2026
Tech, Teamwork, and K-9 Team Up to Stop Drug-Infused Paper From Entering State Prisons Via Mail
The Utah Department of Corrections’ (UDC) recent investment in technology, law enforcement professionals, and drug-sniffing K-9s have paid off with the arrest of a woman suspected of planning to mail hundreds of sheets of drug-infused paper to individuals housed at Utah’s correctional facilities, the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, and the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison.