Treatment of inmates unacceptable.
The UDC refuses to take accountability for the chaos they have created in the lives of Utah State Prison inmates, their families and our society as a whole.
When confronted with the “cruel and unusual punishment” they are enacting on inmates, they lie. They say that the inmates are lying or exaggerating, creating doubt and mistrust in the community. Inmate after inmate, section after section, are documenting human “dog fights” set up by prison staff, then charging them with additional prison time for participating in these fights! Fights manufactured by prison staff, knowingly creating life-threatening situations, while watching from behind safety glass in riot gear with guns and “flash-bang” grenades to protect themselves. Some inmates have been life-flighted to the U of U hospital for life saving care after these fights.
The UDC is responsible for inmate care while incarcerated, preparing them to reintegrate back into society as well as temporary care and guidance after release through AP&P (Adult Parole & Probation).
The Utah Department of Corrections (Corrections & AP&P) Mission Statement is:
“Our mission: Our dedicated team of professionals ensures public safety by effectively managing offenders while maintaining close collaboration with partner agencies and the community. Our team is devoted to providing maximum opportunities for offenders to make lasting changes through accountability, treatment, education, and positive reinforcement within a safe environment.”
This is in grave contrast with what they actually do. The UDC staff currently looks at every inmate, before and after release, for an opportunity to violate their parole/probation and extend their sentence or send them back into the prison system. They do NOTHING towards “providing maximum opportunities for offenders to make lasting changes through accountability, treatment, education, and positive reinforcement within a safe environment.”
82% of all new intake into Utah State Prisons is on a technical violation. NOT a new crime! 50% of all current inmates in the Utah State Prison system are in there for the same technical violations. NO NEW CRIMES!!
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2019/12/01/nila-bala-utah-should-see/
UDC needs to be re-organized from the ground up. They need to get rid of the current leadership and bring in fresh new faces with an eye towards rehabilitation, human dignity and respect. Not this tired old idea that anyone who ever commits a crime is irredeemable and no longer has any basic human rights.
A task force, created by the Governor, made up of the same people who have created the criminal justice chaos we are currently consumed by, have little chance of making the positive changes required to move our society forward in Criminal Justice reform!