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.
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
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.