Image of Richard Piatt, UDC Director of Communications and Government Relations

RIchard Piatt
Director of Public Affairs
[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

Featured image for “Update: Utah Department of Corrections Lockdown Status”
September 29, 2026

Update: Utah Department of Corrections Lockdown Status

As of September 29, 2026, the Utah Department of Corrections is starting the process of lifting the lockdowns at our facilities. This will happen in phases. Lockdown Lifted at the Following Facilities: Sep 30, 2026 Sep 29, 2026 Please refer any questions to Aubrie Anderson ([email protected]) or Anne Lachmar ([email protected]). Previously, both the Central Utah Correctional Facility (CUCF) and the
Featured image for “30-Year UDC Employee Perishes in Vehicle Accident”
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
Featured image for “WATCH: What Is The New UDC IRIS Center?”
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
Featured image for “Tech, Teamwork, and K-9 Team Up to Stop Drug-Infused Paper From Entering State Prisons Via Mail”
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.