State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Utah > Title-53a > Chapter-01 > 53a-1-403-5

53A-1-403.5. Education of persons in custody of the Utah Department ofCorrections -- Contracting for services -- Recidivism reduction plan -- Collaborationamong state agencies -- Annual report.
(1) The State Board of Education, the State Board of Regents, and the Utah Departmentof Corrections, subject to legislative appropriation, are responsible for the education of personsin the custody of the Utah Department of Corrections.
(2) (a) To fulfill the responsibility under Subsection (1), the State Board of Educationand the Utah Department of Corrections shall, where feasible, contract with appropriate privateor public agencies to provide educational and related administrative services. Contracts forpostsecondary education and training shall be under Subsection (2)(b).
(b) (i) The contract under Subsection (2)(a) to provide postsecondary education andtraining shall be with a community college if the correctional facility is located within the serviceregion of a community college, except under Subsection (2)(b)(ii).
(ii) If the community college under Subsection (2)(b)(i) declines to provide the educationand training or cannot meet reasonable contractual terms for providing the education and trainingas specified by the Utah Department of Corrections, postsecondary education and training underSubsection (2)(a) may be procured through other appropriate private or public agencies.
(3) (a) As its corrections education program, the State Board of Education, the StateBoard of Regents, and the Utah Department of Corrections shall develop and implement arecidivism reduction plan, including the following components:
(i) inmate assessment;
(ii) cognitive problem-solving skills;
(iii) basic literacy skills;
(iv) career skills;
(v) job placement;
(vi) postrelease tracking and support;
(vii) research and evaluation;
(viii) family involvement and support; and
(ix) multiagency collaboration.
(b) The plan shall be developed and implemented through the State Office of Education,the State Board of Regents, and the Utah Department of Corrections in collaboration with thefollowing entities:
(i) the Utah College of Applied Technology Board of Trustees;
(ii) local boards of education;
(iii) Department of Workforce Services;
(iv) Department of Human Services;
(v) Board of Pardons and Parole;
(vi) State Office of Rehabilitation; and
(vii) the Governor's Office.
(4) The department shall make a report to the Education and Law Enforcement andCriminal Justice Interim Committees on the recidivism reduction plan before October 1, 2010.

Amended by Chapter 258, 2009 General Session