Utah DOC outlines IRIS reentry centers, leans on volunteers and data to reduce recidivism
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Summary
In a November 2025 Utah Department of Corrections podcast, Executive Director Jared Garcia and Sen. Darren Owens discussed the new IRIS centers — "intelligence, reentry, intervention, and safety" — which will use technology and volunteers to improve case management and reduce returns to prison.
Executive Director Jared Garcia and Sen. Darren Owens used a Nov. 2025 Utah Department of Corrections podcast to describe the department’s IRIS initiative, saying it aims to combine technology, case management and volunteer support to lower recidivism.
“IRIS stands for intelligence, reentry, intervention, and safety,” Executive Director Jared Garcia said, describing the center’s goal of using data to assess people and manage cases more effectively. Garcia added that the department’s purview expands beyond those currently incarcerated to about 20,000 people when probation and parole caseloads are included.
Garcia said the IRIS work will prioritize staff safety while preparing people to reenter communities: “We want them to know that the work that they do is meaningful, it’s impactful … and really at the end of the day to prepare them to reenter our communities.” He framed better assessment and management as a way to keep people out of prison in the first place.
Sen. Darren Owens, a member of the criminal justice appropriations subcommittee, emphasized programs that rely on volunteers and peer-led work inside facilities. Owens described inmate-sponsored programs such as Prevail in Gunnison and a similar program in Salt Lake that use peer accountability and volunteer-led reentry work. He said those programs operated with minimal appropriation and relied heavily on volunteers who also help families prepare for a loved one’s return.
Owens and Garcia both acknowledged the operational trade-offs of volunteer access. Owens noted Utah’s large volunteer base while warning that security efforts to reduce contraband can limit volunteer visits. Garcia said the department must balance access with safety and document staff and inmate behavior thoroughly so courts and parole authorities can make informed decisions.
The two officials also stressed cultural aims inside facilities. Owens argued corrections work is not just punishment: “You can’t just be high law and low love,” he said, urging a balance of accountability and rehabilitation. Garcia echoed the need for both accountability and opportunities for change.
Both said the department will continue to showcase results to secure continued support from the legislature and the public. Garcia called for better technology and data to measure outcomes and guide investment decisions.
The DOC said IRIS is intended to be an operational center, not solely a research project, and leaders plan to seek funding and legislative support to implement the program across case management and community supervision systems.
