Daggett County discusses inmate education partnerships and options for local facility operations

At the Daggett County Commission meeting on March 7, 2025, county officials and education partners described existing vocational and housing-construction training for state inmates and discussed continuing efforts to reach a working arrangement with the Utah Department of Corrections and regional education providers.

County and education representatives said the Department of Corrections currently controls the number of state inmates assigned to out-of-county programs. A presenter at the meeting said participation is limited by behavioral requirements and described last year’s cohort as “close to 40 inmates,” while noting current enrollment is lower.

Speakers outlined how the correctional-education partnership operates: the Department of Corrections funds faculty positions at participating institutions, the state and county contribute supplies or appropriations, and a workforce program or grant provides loans for participants. The presenter said UBTech, Snow College, Davis Technical College and Salt Lake Community College provide services at various facilities and that the local program is the only one from Snow County offering off-Wasatch-Front instruction.

The presenter described a model used elsewhere where program graduates purchase a home built by the trainees, with funding or loan support flowing through the workforce program; that configuration, the presenter said, “comes through UBTech” and “we don't front any of those dollars at all.” The group discussed that this precise funding configuration may not be directly transferable to the county’s facility and that introducing a for‑profit partner could help with supply chains and wages.

Commission participants also discussed the county’s preference for the state to operate the local facility, saying state operation would bring state wages and jobs to the county. Meeting remarks said the Department of Corrections prefers larger facilities (the presenter described a desired scale of “200 or 300 bed facility”) to achieve economies of scale, a factor that has made it hard to secure state commitment for the county’s smaller facility.

Meeting participants asked for assistance arranging a meeting with the newly appointed corrections director; at one point a speaker identified “the new director is Jared Garcia.” Speakers said work with the director and with partners such as GoEO (as referenced in the discussion) could help identify an industry partner or other configuration that attracts state support.

Speakers also flagged a recently started partnership with a nonprofit described in the record as the Other Side Village, which provides mini-home projects with building materials funded by the nonprofit so students receive “real world experience.” Participants said the county has pursued multiple avenues — state partnerships, nonprofit partners and potential for‑profit participation — to find a financially viable path forward for the facility and training programs.

County officials said they will continue seeking a meeting with department leadership and regional partners to pursue options for state operation or other sustainable arrangements; no formal vote or directive was recorded during the discussion.