In 2013, the Utah Legislature and Governor’s Office determined it was necessary to transition operations from the current prison in Draper (a more than 70-year-old campus) to a new facility. The overarching goal of this move was to replace the outdated facilities and aging infrastructure with a new, state-of-the-art facility. The Utah State Correctional Facility (USCF) officially began operations in July 2022. This 200-acre correctional facility is located five miles west of the Salt Lake City International Airport.
Research shows that a prison population’s surroundings play a crucial role in their psychological rehabilitation. Therefore, the Prison Relocation Team determined that the design of the new correctional facility must be well-thought-out. It must integrate multiple functions, delivering court and social services to the population while providing an environment conducive to recovery and rehabilitation.
USCF features floor-to-ceiling windows in numerous housing sections, allowing those housed at the facility to enjoy natural light and views of the surrounding mountains. Following a similar naming convention as it predecessor, the 3,600-bed facility is populated with buildings named after waterways in the state: Antelope (restricted housing), Bear (general population), Currant (mental health, medical and geriatric), Dell (women’s general population), Emerald (women’s restricted housing), Fremont (intake), and Green (treatment and programming).
Contact
1480 N. 8000 W.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
Phone: 801-522-7000
3059
individuals
*Data updated: 02/01/24
Facilities
Bear
These buildings will house male inmates who could qualify for work, programming and education opportunities.
Currant
Currant houses geriatric, ADA and medical dependent inmates, as well as inmates requiring mental health treatment and attention.
Green
The Green building is for inmates who are participating in Sex Offender or Substance Use treatment programs.
Warden
Bart Mortensen
Bart Mortensen is the warden of the Utah State Correctional Facility.
Mortensen has been with the Utah Department of Corrections for over 14 years, beginning as a correctional officer. In 2011, He transitioned from the Division of Prison Operations to Adult Probation and Parole, taking on a role as an agent. During his time with AP&P, he served as a supervisor and assistant regional manager.
In 2021, he was appointed deputy warden of Utah State Correctional Facility. He became warden of the Central Utah Correctional Facility in 2022. He was appointed warden at USCF in November 2023.