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Utah Prisoner Advocate Network

UPAN | A nonprofit community advocacy group supporting the families of Utah inmates.


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📢 LOCKDOWN UPDATE

📢 LOCKDOWN UPDATE | October 26, 2026

The Utah Department of Corrections has informed UPAN that it will begin lifting the lockdown in phases starting Tuesday, October 27.

According to Anne Lachmar, UDC’s Family & Stakeholder Experience Manager, the following will apply:

Tier 1: Will remain on the current recreation schedule with limited services.

Tier 2: Will move to recreation within the tier (“tier recs”).

Tier 3 and Dell: Will continue normal operations.

This is a phased transition. Restrictions remain in place for some, and the update does not provide a date for a full return to normal operations. UDC says it will continue providing updates as the process moves forward.

We know this has been a difficult and stressful time for incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. UPAN will continue sharing updates as we receive them. Please also check our UPAN Family Support Group for ongoing updates and community support.

Source: Update provided to advocates by Anne Lachmar, Utah Department of Corrections, October 26, 2026. ...

6 hours ago
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New from UTRSOL: Report to the Judiciary Interim Committee on the 2027 Sentencing Guidelines Package (Publication 2026-63)

The 2027 package makes prison the starting point for a range of sex offenses that now begin with jail and probation. In one category, the guideline moves from about seven months of jail to 40 months of prison. The Sentencing Commission adopted the package 14–3 on September 2. It takes effect only if the Legislature approves it by concurrent resolution.

The Utah Department of Corrections estimates the package adds 195 to 390 prisoners, at a cost of up to $21.4 million a year at full effect. That estimate counts prison beds only. It doesn’t address:

Sex offense treatment, where the wait list is about 1,433 and the program has received “zero extra therapists,” according to its director
UDC’s own forecast that the prison system reaches its operating limit in 2029.

Whether the 768 beds funded at Gunnison have room for this package, UDC told the commission on September 2 that its numbers “have not been overlaid to the current projection.”

The report does not argue against the penalties. It brings together what five state agencies have said separately over 14 months and asks the committee to look at those accounts side by side before it votes.

The report was sent today to the committee’s chairs, Sen. Todd Weiler and Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, and to each member. The committee reviews the package on October 21 and is expected to vote on a recommendation in November.

📄 Read the full report: https://utrsol-laws-legislation-policy-2026.edgeone.dev/…; ...

4 days ago
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About UPAN

The Utah Prisoner Advocate Network (UPAN) is dedicated to supporting families and loved ones as they navigate the challenging journey of incarceration. When a friend or family member is incarcerated, it can be an overwhelming experience, as supporters face the complex rules, regulations, and restrictions of life separated by bars. UPAN works to make this transition less complicated and isolating by providing resources and support for families while also advocating for better conditions and fairness within Utah’s correctional facilities. Please visit our About Page to learn more.

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All of our important links are now in one place! https://linktr.ee/utahprisoner

Associations

UPAN is a proud coalition member of People Not Prisons, a group of advocacy groups working on behalf of people with mental health conditions, people recovering from substance use disorders, and men and women caught up in Utah’s criminal justice system.

Donate | Federal EIN Number: 90-1021189

The Utah Prisoner Advocate Network (UPAN) is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your contributions are tax-deductible and directly support our mission to create positive change. Information about an UPAN’s tax-exempt status and filings can be found on the IRS website. To make a donation and join our efforts, please visit our Donations page.

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P.O. Box 464
Draper, UT 84020

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