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Utah Department of Corrections says it averted deep cuts, secures funds for reopening, IT modernization and drone restrictions
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Summary
Department leaders say a proposed 5% ongoing cut (about $25 million) was pared to a $6 million one-time reduction; lawmakers approved ongoing funds to reopen a Salt Lake facility, money for prison expansion, $5 million for records modernization and a statutory ban on drones near prisons.
The Utah Department of Corrections said leaders averted a proposed 5% ongoing budget cut during the 2026 legislative session and secured new appropriations for facility reopening, IT modernization and public-safety priorities.
Executive Director Jared Garcia said the department began the session facing an approximately $25 million ongoing reduction but left with a much smaller hit: "we went from 25,000,000 ongoing to 6,000,000 1 time," according to Jeff Madishaw, the department's director of administrative operations and quality. Madishaw explained the $6 million was taken from a fund that would not have been available until July, meaning the department "never actually had the money" and the fund will begin rebuilding afterward.
Why it matters: the session's outcome preserved ongoing operations and added targeted funding leaders said they needed. Madishaw said the Legislature approved $3,500,000 in ongoing money to reopen Bear 3, a previously closed housing unit in Salt Lake, allowing the department to hire officers and address inflationary utility pressures that had forced the closure. He also described a prison expansion trust that now holds roughly $126,500,000 for future construction and capacity.
On policy, Garcia called Senate Bill 93 a key operational win. He said the bill gives the department more flexibility in its tiered housing program and removes language requiring direct supervision in every situation, while also "effectively" making it illegal to operate drones near correctional facilities — a measure leaders said will reduce contraband deliveries and safety risks to staff and people in custody.
Garcia framed the session's success as the product of sustained relationship-building: "we are well on our way to being the best correctional agency in the country," he said, adding that the department had to advocate against several proposals it judged harmful to public safety.
Leaders also celebrated technology and program investments. Garcia described a $5,000,000 appropriation to continue modernization of OTrack, the department's records system, calling it a "huge, huge victory" and saying the current system is outdated. Madishaw said the department spent more than $6,000,000 on OTrack modernization last year and received roughly $5,000,000 more this session plus additional funds for other technology needs.
The department will also take on an expanded role in a statewide homelessness initiative tied to House Bill 110 and the ARCH project. Carolina Heron, legislative affairs director, described a cross‑agency effort to serve "criminogenic high utilizers" — people repeatedly arrested without connection to services — and said Chief Nick Bricker will lead community-safety and stability coordination with the Office of Homeless Services and Department of Workforce Services.
Compensation and staff priorities were another focus. Madishaw said the final session produced a 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment for all employees effective at the start of the fiscal year and additional one‑time pay‑for‑performance funds; the department carried forward $3,300,000 in one‑time pay‑for‑performance money from last year and plans to consider bonuses structured to count toward retirement.
Leadership noted legislative recognition of the department's work: Heron said Representative Lee presented a citation on the House floor and the agency held a 'UDC day on the hill' where multiple legislators met the leadership team.
Next steps: Garcia urged staff to deliver on the new responsibilities and money, saying the department must protect its credibility with lawmakers. He announced an interim listening tour starting in May to gather staff input on priorities for next year's session, including compensation and staffing requests.
The department broadcast the recap as a podcast episode of "Conversations with Corrections" and directed listeners to corrections.utah.gov and the UDC YouTube page for more information.
