Utah DOC Asks County Jails to Fix Security Problems

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Department of Corrections officials asked county jails holding state inmates to correct security vulnerabilities identified during recent facility reviews.

The DOC reviews, which were prompted by several escape incidents involving state inmates held in county jails, asked jail authorities to address concerns about security procedures, facility surveillance systems and perimeter fencing.

Although many of the department’s recommendations involve minor fixes, failure to remedy more serious vulnerabilities could result in the removal of state inmates from some county jails, officials say.

The state houses about 1,500 inmates at more than 20 county jails throughout Utah. The DOC removed more than 300 violent offenders from county jails — replacing them with nonviolent and minimum-security inmates — in the wake of the recent escape incidents and subsequent facility security reviews.

In addition to verifying that jails implement the recommended security improvements, the DOC will establish a system of regular reviews of county facilities that house state inmates, officials say.