Due to public health concerns surrounding COVID-19, in-person hearings at either of Utah's prison sites have been suspended. Individuals will still be able to listen to live broadcasts as hearings occur at the following address: https://bop.utah.gov/hearings_live_stream. If you had planned on participating in a hearing in person, please contact our Victim Coordinator at 801-261-6464 to arrange an option to participate virtually. We will keep this ALERT updated....

In the wake of increasing COVID-19 cases in Utah, in-person visiting has been suspended at both the Utah State Prison and Central Utah Correctional Facility. Officials with the Utah Department of Corrections do not anticipate that this will be a long-term suspension. If you have scheduled a visiting appointment, please do not show up. Our visiting team is attempting to make contact with those who have scheduled an appointment. As positive test results in the community have skyrocketed recently, so too have the number of cases increased among inmates and UDC staff members. Despite adhering to COVID-19 protocols based on CDC recommendations and in coordination with state and local health officials, COVID-19 is pervasive and still manages to find its way into UDC facilities. Several housing units at both facilities are currently on quarantine status. The latest strain — Omicron — is considered more contagious than prior strains. As prisons are considered a congregate living environment this oftentimes requires lengthier isolation and quarantine protocols then what is standardly seen in the community for both staff and the incarcerated. Please note that these measures are put in place with careful consideration and in close collaboration with state and local health officials. The Department will continue to provide regular updates on its website and on social media. https://corrections.utah.gov/covid-19-updates/ ...

UPDATE Communications office, Dec. 16, 2021 Holiday Gift Bags are no longer available for purchase. Thanks to all who participated!   The 2021 Holiday Gift Bags are now available from the Utah Department of Corrections’ commissary. There are two packages being offered. The Jumbo package costs $10.50 while the Mega package runs $11. Details of what’s included in each can be found here. Both can be ordered at tigersnack.com. Once at the site, select “Utah,” then the specific the housing unit of the incarcerated offender. From there, select the offender’s name, followed by the package choice. Those with questions can contact the commissary at 801-576-7909.   Communications office, Dec. 1, 2021  ...

Nearly one-third of incarcerated individuals in Utah’s prison system are serving time for a sexual offense. The Department strives to treat persons who sexually offend (PSOs) through effective treatment interventions based on their individual risk factors that brought them to the attention of the Courts and the Department of Corrections. The Department’s Sex Offense Treatment Program (SOTP) is primarily housed at the Utah State Prison in Draper. It is designed to last 15-24 months depending on the offender’s identified risk factors and overall risk level. Upon incarceration, the PSO is assessed on their willingness to participate if the Board of Pardons and Parole orders sex offense-specific treatment. Their response to this assessment determines where they are placed on the tracking list. As of Spring 2021, PSOs will receive an evaluation prior to their original hearing with the Board of Pardons and Parole. The intensity and comprehensiveness of this evaluation depends on their level of risk, but will include various measures that are evidence based for this population. The evaluation will specifically provide risk estimates to the Board of Pardons and Parole, as well as treatment recommendations. These recommendations could include various forms of community-based treatment or treatment while incarcerated. These recommendations will take into account the offender’s risk factors identified through the assessment process and may look different between PSOs as it is a complex process. Once the Board sets a rehearing date and orders sex offense-specific treatment, the offender will be enrolled no sooner than 24 months prior to their projected rehearing date, barring any exigent circumstances. This affords adequate time to enroll an offender and move them to the appropriate treatment building. SOTP is anchored on evidence-based practice principles centered on cognitive/behavioral therapy with a strong relapse-prevention component. We focus on the top 8 criminogenic risk factors for all PSO’s in addition to identifying the risk factors specific to sexual offending present for each individual PSO. All therapists providing treatment are licensed mental-health professionals with specialized training in sex offense-specific treatment or they are training under the direct supervision of a licensed mental health professional. PSO’s participating in treatment are expected to achieve satisfactory progress intellectually and emotionally, which is continuously evaluated during their treatment episode. Progress is measured by observable changes — not simply completion of assignments or time spent in therapy. Progress is based on how hard the PSO works, how motivated they are, and their willingness to incorporate changes freely to show commitment toward rehabilitation without being defensive. PSO’s participate in group therapy once or twice a week, depending on the program, and also receive individual therapy to further understand the treatment concepts learned in group. They can complete workbooks and daily journals to demonstrate their internalization of the skills they learn. They are expected to engage in healthy interactions with peers and staff as they accept and display a commitment to change and seek to improve and excel in new approaches to healthy living. Clinical mental-health staff are also available to work with program participants as requested if the PSO’s needs fall outside the scope of the sex offense treatment program. Behaviors are observed on housing units and by reviewing disciplinary actions or behavioral patterns. This helps staff distinguish a consistent, healthy lifestyle from a covert or dual lifestyle fraught with continued disrespect for rules and others. PSO’s participate in assessments to receive feedback regarding patterns of arousal, thinking, and general behavior. The general notion is to treat PSO’s with respect while holding them accountable. Staff seek out the most current literature and research into treatment practices to accurately assess risk and needs and help PSO’s make positive, lasting changes.   Therapy consists of: Group psychotherapy Psycho-educational classes Individual Therapy based on the PSO’s skill and risk level   Psycho-educational courses are available prior to and during program enrollment: Treatment orientation Pre-treatment program (6 phases made up of psychoeducational classes like thinking errors and victim empathy) Anger management (optional) Parenting (optional) Relapse prevention (required – core part of the current program) Human Sexuality (optional)   Primary areas of change include: Accountability General empathy Pro–social attitudes Adequate coping skills/styles Adequate social skills Positive self-esteem Control over impulses Emotional Regulation/Distress Tolerance Control over substance use Normative sexual views/interests Understanding risk factors Quality of self-management plans Quality of supports Quality of release plans Commitment to maintenance   Process for enrolling in the program: Due to demand coupled with a lack of resources, the Department has to be selective and work only with PSO’s who are adequately committed to genuine change through a process of investment, observation, assessment and confrontation that helps them build accountability while developing respect for others — including themselves. Again, all individuals sentenced to prison for a sex offense (whether a new commitment or a parole violator) receive a treatability assessment. The PSO’s name and results are then placed on the Department’s Sex Offense Treatment Program tracking list. Their response dictates their placement on the tracking list. They can be placed in the SOTP at the Utah State Prison in Draper, in a treatment program at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, or at the San Juan, Sanpete or Kane County Jails through the prison’s Jail Contracting Program.   PSO’s are placed in treatment based on several factors:  Amenability to treatment Level 3 privilege classification or higher Board of Pardons and Parole order indicating they want the PSO to be in treatment while incarcerated Availability of a treatment slot Priority classification from the Board of Pardons indicating the PSO would likely parole in the event of satisfactory treatment progress   Not every individual who has committed a sex offense will be eligible for treatment. Some reasons for exclusion include: No possibility of parole Poor motivation Violating institutional rules Lack of desire for treatment Disciplinary measures and write-ups Test results that suggest incompatibility with treatment   PSO’s eligible for treatment can lose their parole dates for:  Failure to successfully participate Refusal to participate Removing one’s self from treatment Being removed by staff from treatment  ...

Page updated 10/29/2021 Visit coronavirus.utah.gov for statewide information. See updates below in the "Latest Update" section for more information regarding outbreaks at the Utah State Prison in Draper and the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison. Have specific questions regarding COVID-19 and your incarcerated family member or friend? Please contact our hotline at 801-545-5505.   __________________________________________________________   UTAH RESPONSE: The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) is working collaboratively with state partners — including the Lieutenant Governor’s task force — to address Coronavirus in Utah. The safety of incarcerated individuals or those on supervision, along with our staff, volunteers and others who interact directly with our Department, is paramount. As Coronavirus cases in Utah continue to increase, please know that we have outbreak strategies in place, which include prompt medical care and testing, and quarantining or isolating staff or incarcerated individuals. These updates will be shared via this webpage and social media. For more information on the virus, and for state-related updates, please visit the website: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/. Learn more extensively about the many steps UDC has taken to ensure the safety and health of incarcerated individuals and those on supervision with the Department here: https://le.utah.gov/interim/2020/pdf/00002842.pdf In March 2021, the Utah Health Emergency Response Team (UHERT) visited the Utah State Prison in Draper and the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison to review current COVID-19 operating procedures. You can see the report here: https://corrections.utah.gov/images/UHERT_Prison_Summary_2.pdf     __________________________________________________________     THE NUMBERS: Total Confirmed Offender Cases to Date by Location *State and county jail incarcerated individuals are tracked together and totals would need to be requested from each county jail.  **At this time, the University of Utah Hospital requires that any inmate being transported to a hospital for any kind of care to be tested for COVID-19. **Starting May 20, 2020, prison intakes will be limited to Wednesdays. These will include intakes from all county jails and from Adult Probation & Parole. In direct consultation with local health officials, it was decided that these individuals will be in a cohort together for two weeks, and will each be tested for COVID-19 within 24-48 hours of arrival. Those who decline to be tested will be placed in a designated, separate area for two weeks. Please note that this increase in testing each week will reflect a spike in the overall number of inmates tested at the Utah State Prison in Draper and possibly a marginal increase at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison. Updated 10/29/2021    Total Confirmed Staff Cases: 529 Total Recovered Staff Cases: 511 Updated 10/29/2021   Vaccination Rate Percentages Utah State Prison in Draper: 88% Central Utah Correctional Facility: 80% **Please note that this number reflects the percentage of individuals who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been offered to all incarcerated individuals at the Utah State Prison in Draper and the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, including all intakes. Incarcerated individuals who have not been vaccinated can request a vaccination by submitting an Inmate Care Request form (ICR), which is available in their housing units.  Updated 10/20/2021     __________________________________________________________     LATEST UPDATES:                                                                09/10/2021 The Utah Department of Corrections reports the death of a COVID-19 positive individual on September 9, 2021. The individual was 43-years-old and was hospitalized at the time of his death. Prior to hospitalization, the individual was housed at the Sanpete County Jail as part of the state's inmate placement program. UDC will continue to share written updates on deaths of individuals who were COVID-19 positive at the time of their passing or not considered recovered. However, the numbers will not be reflected in the public COVID-19 tracking sheet until the official cause has been determined by the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner. The Sanpete County Jail currently houses 71 state inmates. 32 of these individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 with 15 of those individuals considered recovered.   09/03/21 COVID-19 quarantine and isolation protocols initiated at Oquirrh 1 and 2 facility As mass testing continues at the Utah State Prison in Draper, one individual has now tested positive in Oquirrh 1. Areas now on quarantine include the Oquirrh 1 and Oquirrh 2 facilities at the Utah State Prison, and the Ironwood facility at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison. New intakes and transfers are quarantined as a precaution as well. UDC continues to work with state and local health officials regarding COVID-19 protocols. The Department continues to adhere to CDC protocols. As of August 18, 86 percent of incarcerated individuals at the Utah State Prison (USP) in Draper have been vaccinated and 76 percent at the Central Utah Correctional Facility (CUCF) in Gunnison. The vaccine has been offered to all incarcerated individuals at the Utah State Prison in Draper and the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, including all intakes. Incarcerated individuals who have not been vaccinated can request a vaccination by submitting an Inmate Care Request form (ICR), which is available in their housing units. As a reminder, the Department provides on-site medical care through the Clinical Services Bureau, which operates infirmaries at both the Utah State Prison and the Central Utah Correctional Facility. The infirmaries offer comprehensive, on-site medical care where medical staff can treat or stabilize inmates needing health care. Mental health services are also available to incarcerated individuals as needed. The Bureau also contracts with outside hospitals and clinics for treatment of seriously ill inmates who cannot be properly cared for at an infirmary or require evaluation or care from a specialist. Any incarcerated individual who exhibits symptoms outside the resources of our medical providers will receive care at a nearby hospital. Our medical staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In areas of an outbreak our medical staff have an active presence on those units at least twice a day to check-in with incarcerated individuals. Individuals who are already medically compromised (outside of COVID-19), have standardly had a greater medical presence and are actively monitored. Any incarcerated individual that communicates any discomfort will be given access to medications required or any other treatment required. As a reminder, the only way to share an incarcerated individual's medical information with a family member is through an Authorization to Formally Discuss Health Information...

  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently introduced new rate caps to ensure that "rates for interstate and international phone calls are just and reasonable for all Americans."   In working with our provider, GTL, we anticipated that adapting to the new regulations would reduce our overall rates, which went into effect on October 26, 2021.   We have been made aware that some families rates should have remained the same but didn't. This may be due to a change in how FCC defines inter/intralata calls.   We’d first like to apologize for not publicizing that there would be a reduction in rates until after the changes went into effect.   Second, we are working with our provider, GTL, to ensure that costs have not generally increased for phone calls.   We will plan to provide an update tomorrow with details on the new rates.  ...

  The Utah Department of Corrections celebrated the 2021 Department Awards event Wednesday at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. More than 150 gathered at the event center to celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in their quest to make the corrections department one of the best in the nation. Jim Hudspeth, executive deputy director, led the presentation of the fallen officer table, followed by remarks from the Department’s executive director, Brian Nielson. "Credibility. It's something we do incredibly well in our community," he said. "Credibility is about doing good, being good and being good at what we do." Desmond Lomax provided the keynote this year. In addition to passing on career tips — "Don't retire three months before a pandemic," he joked — he highlighted the impact a person can have on another. "If you don't know what your impact is, then have the courage to understand what your impact is, whether it's asking your spouse, or at work," he said. "Ask, 'Am I impacting you in a positive or negative way.' Because if you can understand, then you can make the necessary adjustments." UDC awards chairpersons, Maria Peterson and Travis Knorr, presented the awards. A special video spotlight was given to the Executive Director Award recipient, the Civilian Employee of the Year and the Certified Employee of the Year.       Communications office, Sept. 20, 2021...

Incarcerated individuals housed in Timpanogos and Promontory got a couple of special visitors recently. Bob, an American kestrel, and Phoenix, a red-tailed hawk, made an appearance at the two facilities thanks to the conservation group The Peregrine Fund. Erin Katzner and Chris Parish showed off the two while being peppered with questions from attendees about the birds. Yes, the American kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America. It’s also one of the most colorful. No, red-tailed hawks are not the fastest raptor, that title belongs to the Peregrine falcon, which can hit about 240 miles per hour in a dive. Katzner said the reason for showing the animals to the incarcerated – and anyone else – is simple. “Hopefully, they will be inspired and help protect them in the wild,” she said. Communications office, Sept. 10, 2021...

Beginning August 1, in-person visiting will now be Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Each visit will be approximately 1.5 hours. Video visiting will occur Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Each visit will be approximately 30 minutes. Both video and in-person visits will still need to be scheduled. Please continue to review and schedule visits here: https://corrections.utah.gov/index.php/2014-10-30-20-13-24/14-visiting-information/1267-video-visiting-schedules We are excited to announce that with these changes, we have been able to increase the amount of in-person and video visits available each month based on privilege level. You can learn more here: https://corrections.utah.gov/index.php/2014-10-30-20-13-24/14-visiting-information/1057-visiting-privilege-levels As we continue to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to make changes, and we've truly appreciated the feedback from the community regarding our initial rollout of in-person visiting in June. To facilitate a safe visiting process, up to two (2) visitors at a time will be allowed. The following requirements will also need to be met by all visitors: Will need to be 18 and above Live in the same household (must be verified) Must not have been out of the country in the last 30 days Must not have been around anyone with Covid-19 for the last 14 days Must have a temperature less than 100 degrees when arriving on prison property Must wear a mask No physical contact between inmates and visitors will be permitted Visitors will need to fill out this form when they check-in for their visit. Communications Office, July 30, 2021...