Utah Inmate Records

Approximately 6,000 inmates are housed in Utah state prisons, while the local jails in the state hold about 5,400 offenders. Similarly, an average of 1,300 federal inmates are serving prison terms in federal correctional facilities operating within the state's borders. These indicate an incarceration rate of 176 per 100,000 residents in Utah, which is about 50.4% lower than the United States' average rate of 355 inmates per 100,000 total population.

About 25% of the Utah inmate population is held in county jails as part of the Inmate Placement Program to prevent overcrowding in state-run correctional facilities. Others (approximately 75%) are housed in state-operated correctional facilities. There are no private prisons in the state.

Inmate records in Utah are kept by different authorities responsible for managing state, local, and federal correctional facilities in the state. In other words, each government agency in charge of a prison or jail is responsible for maintaining proper records of inmates in custody and under their jurisdiction. Utah inmate records typically have detailed information about individual offenders while in custody. Such details include the following:

• Personal Information - Name, gender, race, date of birth, age, height, hair color, and eye color are all personal details included in an inmate's record.
• Court Records - These include trial details, court dates, fines, court orders, and judgments.
• Arrest Information - This includes the charges filed, booking details, the date of arrest, the arrest location, the warrant of arrest, and the arresting law enforcement agency.
• Custody Details - The location of incarceration, offender number, case manager information, and the housing facility.
• Release Information - This shows the expected release date of the inmate.
• Disciplinary Actions - These primarily detail an inmate's behavior in custody and the disciplinary actions taken against them for every infraction committed.

Are Inmate Records Public in Utah?

Yes, inmate records are public in Utah, per the state's General Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), codified in Title 63G, Chapter 2 of the state's Code. According to Section 63G-2-201 of the Utah Code, unless prohibited by law, anyone has the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records, including inmate records, in the state.

There are, however, some exceptions. An inmate record in Utah to which access is restricted (sealed or expunged) as a result of court rules is not public. Also, any information in an inmate record that is private, protected, or controlled under Sections 63G-2-302, 63G-2-303, 63G-2-304, and 63G-2-305 of the Utah Code is confidential and may not be accessed by the public.

What Agencies Are Responsible for Inmate Records in Utah?

Certain government agencies are saddled with the responsibilities of managing the correctional facilities administration in Utah and keeping records of inmates incarcerated in such facilities. The key ones among these agencies include the following:

• The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) - Utah operates 2 state-run prisons and 6 community correctional centers under the supervision of the state's Department of Corrections (UDC). The UDC holds inmates in correctional facilities that align with their security needs, most of whom are convicted of felony crimes and sentenced to more than one year in incarceration. In addition to managing the state-run correctional facilities, the UDC is also responsible for keeping accurate records of each inmate under its jurisdiction.
• Police Departments - The responsibility of the local police departments regarding inmate records is primarily the maintenance of arrest records for all offenders convicted and sentenced to jails or prisons. While the police departments do not provide custody for convicted individuals, they keep records of information gathered on such offenders at the time of arrest, which are a significant part of inmate records.
• County Sheriff's Offices - Each of the 26 county jails in Utah is overseen by a county sheriff's office, which is also tasked with the responsibility of keeping accurate records of inmates under its supervision. Offenders sentenced to local jails primarily serve short sentences for varying offenses, including misdemeanors and mild felonies.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) - Although there are no federal prisons in Utah, anyone convicted of violating federal law in the state is sentenced to a federal prison in another state. Federal prisons are generally supervised by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), a government agency that is also responsible for maintaining records of federal inmates.

How To Search an Inmate's Information in Utah

Each correctional facility in Utah has information regarding all inmates in its custody. Hence, it is important to know the prison or jail where an inmate is incarcerated before setting out to search for such an inmate's information or record.

Find an inmate in Utah State Prisons

The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) offers members of the public an inmate search tool known as the Offender Search system that enables them to search for information regarding inmates housed in state correctional facilities. With this inmate search system, anyone can find information about an offender who is currently incarcerated by the UDC using their name or UDC ID number. At least one letter of an inmate's first and last name is required to perform a name-based search.

In Utah, visiting the state correctional facility where an inmate whose information is sought is held is usually recommended. This is because the UDC Offender Search system only provides limited information. With an in-person visit to a state-run prison or community correctional center, an individual is assured of obtaining detailed records on any inmate whose information they seek. However, they must be able to provide certain details to enable the custodian to search and retrieve the inmate's file.

Find an Inmate in Local Jail

As the agencies in charge of local jails, most county sheriff's offices in Utah have dedicated online inmate search tools that enable public access to information regarding inmates incarcerated in those jails. These tools are given different names, ranging from inmate locators and inmate rosters to inmate lookup tools. They allow the search for inmates by name, booking number, date of birth, case number, admission date, and/or arrest date.

County sheriff's offices in Utah also allow members of the public to find information regarding inmates in local jails in person. Once an inmate's incarceration location is identified, an interested person may visit the correctional facility and request detailed records on the inmate. However, they must have relevant information that can help facilitate the search.

Find an Inmate in Federal Prison

Although no federal prison operates in Utah, individuals arrested for committing federal offenses within the state boundaries and found guilty are still convicted for their crimes and sentenced to imprisonment in out-of-state federal prisons. Information about such individuals may be found through the BOP Inmate Locator, which allows name-based search and search by BOP register number for offenders incarcerated in federal prisons from 1982 to date. Search results typically include an inmate's full name, BOP registration number, gender, release date, location, and race.

How Can I Access Old Inmate Records?

Pieces of inmate information available through the inmate search tools provided by different prison/jail authorities in Utah are primarily those on offenders who are currently in custody. When searching for old inmate records in the state, the first place to check is the state's Division of Archives and Records Service. This division has a digital collection of old inmate records documented as registers since 1870, which contains personal information of state prison inmates (including photographs) and their criminal information. Records of former inmates convicted of federal offenses in Utah but incarcerated in federal prisons in other states are also available through the National Archives.

When detailed information about any inmate previously incarcerated in Utah is required, it is best to visit the state-run correctional facility or local jail where the person was held while serving their sentence. Providing information such as the inmate's name, date of birth, gender, and release date can help the record custodian locate the file more quickly.

Alternatively, an interested party may submit a GRAMA request (public record request) to the Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) if the old inmate whose record is sought was released from a state prison. If the former inmate was incarcerated in a federal prison after their conviction in the state, submit a FOIA request to the BOP to retrieve their detailed records or information.

Furthermore, third-party sites like Utahpublicrecords.us, owned by reliable, independent record service companies, also provide access to old inmate records in the state. These companies periodically gather records of inmates from credible and official sources and have them uploaded to their databases. Such records are kept permanently and may be accessed by anyone at any time, although usually at a nominal fee.

Can I Find a Utah Inmate Record for Free?

Yes. Access to records of inmates housed in state-run correctional facilities and local jails in Utah through the different inmate search resources provided by the respective prison/jail authority is free. The BOP Inmate Locator also provides free access to information regarding offenders convicted of federal crimes in the state but housed in federal prisons in other states. However, each of these online resources only has records of inmates under the jurisdiction of each prison/jail authority.

Third-party sites like Utahpublicrecords.us provide public, centralized access to all inmate records in the state, including those of offenders incarcerated in local and state correctional facilities as well as those held in out-of-state federal prisons. However, anyone using such services must be willing to pay a small fee.

Jails and Prisons in Utah

The categories of correctional facilities in Utah, based on how they are managed, are listed below:

• State Prisons - The two state-operated prisons in Utah are managed by the state's Department of Corrections.
• Community Correctional Centers - These correctional facilities are also operated by the Utah Department of Corrections. They hold offenders who have recently been paroled from state prisons or are on probation. Only one of the six correctional centers in the state is designated for women.
• Local Jails - There are about 26 local county jails in Utah, all overseen by county sheriff's offices. As part of the state's Inmate Placement Program to address state prison housing capacity issues, the Department of Corrections contracts with 20 of these jail facilities to provide housing for eligible state inmates.

State Prisons in Utah

The table below lists the state-run prisons and community correctional centers under the authority of the Utah Department of Corrections (UDC):

Private Prisons in Utah

Utah does not have a privately owned prison or jail.

Utah Inmate Statistics

• Utah Incarceration Rate - 176 per 100,000 residents
• Male Incarceration Rate - 322 per 100,000 males
• Female Incarceration Rate - 26 per 100,000 females
• Youth Custody Rate - 37 per 100,000 youths
• Number of Prisoners in Private Prisons - 0
• Black/White Imprisonment Disparity - 7.6:1
• Latino/White Imprisonment Disparity - 1.8:1
• Number of offenders under community supervision: 585 per 100,000 people
• Number on probation - 440 per 100,000 people
• Number on parole - 155 per 100,000 people
• Felony Disenfranchisement Rate - 0.3%

* Source: United States Bureau of Justice Statistics