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Committee advances HB 163 to create Division of Adult Probation and Parole inside Corrections
Summary
House Bill 163, supported by Department of Corrections leadership, would establish a separate Division of Adult Probation and Parole (AP&P) within the Utah Department of Corrections to provide additional autonomy and leadership for probation and parole operations; the committee gave the bill a favorable recommendation.
House Bill 163 would create a Division of Adult Probation and Parole within the Utah Department of Corrections so AP&P has its own director and greater operational autonomy while remaining inside the department. The committee favorably recommended the 1st substitute by voice vote.
A committee member presenting the measure said the change responds to operational challenges the department faced during a facility transition and subsequent staffing and safety problems, including mandatory overtime for AP&P agents and rising assaults in the facility. The sponsor said new leadership at UDC has produced marked improvements and that giving AP&P divisional status would bolster morale and help the agency address drug addiction, reintegration, and supervision caseload issues.
The sponsor and committee members emphasized that the bill carries no fiscal note and would be implemented within the current agency budget. A public speaker, Michael Jarman, described personal problems with probation practices and said heavy‑handed tactics can drive people back into custody; the sponsor replied that the department has changed policy and is working on reentry improvements. After public comment the committee voted to pass the bill with a favorable recommendation.
The bill now goes to the House floor for further consideration.
