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Utah Prison: Stay or Go

Utahs prison currently resides in the city of Draper, and when first built the land was
rural. Over the past few decades, the land near the prison has grown with business and residential
development making the acreage that the prison resides on worth millions to developers. Since
the age of the prison is increasing, there has been talk of moving the facility. If the prison is
moved and the land is sold to developers, the city of Draper and the State of Utah would get the
sales tax. If the property is purchased by a business that creates sales, they would get taxes from
each of those sales, year after year Draper would benefit. The city of Drapers property value
would rise because it would no longer hold the prison.
If the state continues to leave the prison at its current location it cannot use the money it
would receive from the sell to rebuild the prison. As the prison sits now, studies reflect it will
need to increase space for projected new inmates. In an article from The Salt Lake Tribune
building elsewhere would allow for a modern prison complex that would be better suited to
offer therapy and rehabilitation services to inmates (Canham). The current inmates do not have
the space for much needed resources to learn how to incorporate back into society once they are
released. Studies have shown that the current prison will be outdated and $238 million (in 2014
dollars) in upkeep and improvements over the next 20 years (Utah.gov/interim). Some of these
studies have been created by a firm hired by the state, located in Texas so that they are not
biased. This has created a large issue of, if not Draper then where?

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The Governor of Utah put together a committee to help choose a site for the prison. This
committee would establish an 11-member board and spend $1.7 million to do a cost-benefit
study, environmental reviews and design and construction consulting in anticipation of possibly
relocating the prison. (Gehrke) The committee has a time frame and are to look at and conduct
studies on where would be best to relocate the prison. They are to decide on a recommendation
and give it to the governor and legislature. The committee includes members that have
experience working with committees other public venues. The members include an urban
county mayor, a rural county commissioner, a judge and individuals with expertise in real estate,
employment and rehabilitation programs (Adams). One of the members, Ben McAdams quoted
saying he pledged to act as a "watchdog" to ensure the board's decisions are based on facts and
data, rather than private interests, and that the process is transparent. (Adams).
If the facility needs to be moved, land needs to be from at least 680 acres, which is the
Drapers location size. Many land owners have added to a list to sell their land for the new prison
site, all sites will have to go through a process to determine if it is worthy to be considered, even
the current site. The committee has a point system to help grade a site, they will total points to
help narrow the list. There are six criteria for the points system, and they are: proximity, land and
environment, infrastructure, community services/other, development costs, and community
acceptance.
Proximity, 35 out of 100 points, of the location is close to staff, visitors, and volunteers.
They figure that the location to be successful, it needs to be close and not long drives for staff,
visitors and volunteers. Sites requiring long commutes will reduce the likelihood of support from
above mentioned. The proximity of the facility should be close to medical and treatment
providers. It needs to be close to transfer inmates to such locations for emergencies. Also close to

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legal services, which includes courthouses, costing more if a long drive for federal marshals to
transport inmates to and from for their court appearances.
Land and Environment, 15 out of 100 points, have several issues to include within this
topic. Land area and topography should be sufficient for structures, parking, and access roads.
Soil characteristics need to be considered, what if the land has severe liquefaction potential. The
cost to cure the soil so that it can be built on without causing slides or sinking. Wetlands are a
factor because of flooding cautions. Also making sure the site hasnt already been used as a
landfill, with a hazard of methane gas release.
Infrastructure, 15 of 100 points, is a great deal to depend on, making sure there are access
to current roadways. Even if they have to incur cost of building roads they still need to have
access to major highways. The new site needs to tap into the current water supply, as well as a
wastewater treatment. The site needs access to power, gas, and telecommunications, to be a wellfunctioning facility.
Community Services and Other, 10 of 100 points, include emergency response teams like
full time police officers and firefighters. Although the site will have its own teams and fire
systems, it still needs access to outside personnel and equipment. Incase an emergency happens
and it needs help from these sources. If teams are too far away, a small occurrence can become a
catastrophe.
Developmental Cost, 10 of 100 points, are the cost for each site to build. All the sites are
unique and have different features that need to be considered. Some will result in higher cost
than others. The total cost to develop will be considered in this category.
Community Acceptance, 15 of 100 points, this is the highest opposition from every angle.
Each site has a community around it that will or will not accept the facility. They figure the more

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supportive a community the more successful the site will be and less costly in legal challenges. It
will become costly and take up time if they have opposition that takes a legal route.
There were many sites, with infrastructure, and other factors, it was narrowed down to a
handful of properties that owners volunteered to be considered. Once it got down to a few sites
the committee held an open house in each of the sites communities so that residents could voice
their opinions. All sites had opposed opinions from residents, and some of their representatives
in the legislature. More time is passing and politics are starting to get involved with the mayor of
Salt Lake stating his concerns, the Governor and the State House Speaker. Most residents from
the potential sites that oppose the move are asking questions on why it does not stay in Draper,
and it seems Draper has already given their ideas of what they are going to do with the land once
the prison has been sold and removed. Draper city hopes to attract technology companies as
well as high-rise residential housing and some retail outlets (Roche).
The committee keeps getting asked by many on why it cannot stay, even the governor has
said it has a 50-50 chance of staying in Draper. Here lies the problem, it cannot stay because of
cost to upkeep and it doesnt have a place to go with welcoming arms. It seems nobody is
budging, more money is being spent on studies and resources, and land owners that once offered
up their property for the sale have pulled their land from the list. I believe the better site would
be closest to our courts, closer to where most employees that work at the prison live. It needs to
be near land that has roads, sewer or waste that it can link to. An area that doesnt have a
projected development to come in, like what has happened to Draper.
The Governor of Utah has given the committee a time frame so that this project doesnt
drag on. Once the committee has a recommendation it is passed over to the legislature, and the
legislature will hold a special session on its decision. My decision would be near the airport, but

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since I dont live there its an easy one for me. According to a report from the Office of
Legislative Research and General Counsel the top 3 sites with the most points are the Southwest
Valley in Salt Lake County, Airport North in Salt Lake County and Northwest Valley in Utah
County. They received the highest points totaling 86, 82, and 80 out of a possible 100. However,
this report is from December 2014. As of July 8, 2015 the chair of the committee once named
PRADA now PRC, Prison Relocation Committee, has stated the August 1st deadline will not be
met. They will met on July 16th about the latest 4 sites. I80/7200 West site, SR 138 Industrial
Park, Lake Mountain West, and Cedar Valley South. They are also requesting the
recommendation delivery date from August 1st to October 1st. I feel that this decision needs to
take time, although Draper City is itching to get their hands on the land.
As of the beginning of July, quote from Deseret News Lisa Riley Roche consideration
to replace the Utah State Prison in Draper appears to point to property in Eagle Mountain as the
cheapest and easiest to develop. This does have a large community near it and a large
opposition of it being near them. Unfortunately, my opinion of having it near the courts in Salt
Lake, is the most expensive because of the site soil is spongy and would need to be squeezed dry.
Representative David Lifferth of Republican of Eagle Mountain said Salt Lake site is the best
deal for taxpayers because it will be cheaper to operate in the long run thanks to being closer to
employees and volunteers as well as courts and hospitals. I fully agree. It really comes down to
who is willing to get shunted aside and let it happen.
"There's a lot of numbers we still need. We have to look at a wide range of issues," the
commission's co-chairman, House Majority Assistant Whip Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, said.
"There's more to consider here than just the numbers."(Riley Roche) I think the committee is
trying to accommodate many who are affected by this move. They are even taking comments

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from the inmates families, who will have to travel even further to visit their loved ones. No
matter where they move the facility people will be put out it comes down to the greater good.
My first thoughts on this subject were that I wouldnt want this in my backyard. What if
it would lower the value of my house, or what if someone were to escape? Thinking why does
the Draper residents want it out so badly, it was there before they bought their homes. Then
doing research and speaking with people about it, my feelings grew into a more knowledgeable
choice, or so I would like to think. Before the prison moved to Draper in the early 1950s it was
located in Sugarhouse, where the current park and Highland High School sits now. Knowing it
was in a previous place that became over ran with communities and needing a move. I wonder if
in another half decade this subject will arise.
I am hoping the current communities will see that this change can be good. Moving the
prison will have more room and beds for inmates. This will make it so overcrowding doesnt
happen and less people being released into society that havent served their full term. Moving
will create more jobs at the prison, with more inmates they will need more correction officers to
handle a larger population. With a larger facility the extras that were discussed earlier like
rehabilitation, and therapy, can have room to help the inmates. In hopes of more ways to council
inmates to not return to prison and create a vicious cycle.

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Works Cited

Canham, Matt. "Utah Prison Relocation Meeting Comes Back To, 'Why Leave Draper?'" The
Salt Lake Tribune. The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 May 2015. Web. 2 August 2015.
"Report of the Prison Relocation Commission." Report of the Prison Relocation
Commission (2015): n. pag. Le.utah.gov. Web. 23 July 2015.
<http://le.utah.gov/interim/2015/pdf/00001967.pdf>.

Gehrke, Robert. "Governor Signs Bill Studying Draper Prison Relocation."Utah Local News.
The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Mar. 2013. Web. 22 July 2015.
Roche, Lisa Riley. "Prison Relocation Commission Ready to Dial Back in Governor, Full
Legislature." DeseretNews.com. Deseret News, 28 Feb. 2015. Web. 22 July 2015.

"In Our Opinion: Careful Consideration of Prison Sites Should Include State's Current
Site." DeseretNews.com. Deseret News, 08 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 July 2015.
"Master Plan for the Potential Relocation of the Draper Prison Final Report." (n.d.): 1213. Le.utah.gov. Web. 23 July 2015. <http://le.utah.gov/interim/2014/pdf/00005688.pdf>.

Winslow, Ben. "Utah Prison Relocation Sites Ranked in Report."Fox13nowcom. Fox 13

News, 03 Apr. 2015. Web. 23 July 2015.

Adams, Brooke. "Utah Governor Announces Picks for Prison Relocation Board." Utah Local
News. The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 May 2013. Web. 20 July 2015

"Prison Relocation Commission Site Screening Results for 14 Highly Ranked Sites." (n.d.): n.
pag. Web. 26 July 2015. <http://le.utah.gov/interim/2014/pdf/00005400.pdf>.

Winslow, Ben. "See the Five Sites Where the Utah State Prison Could Go."Fox13nowcom.
Fox 13 News, 15 May 2015. Web. 20 July 2015.

Roche, LIsa Riley. "New Prison Relocation Study Points to Eagle Mountain Site."
DeseretNews.com. Deseret News, 16 July 2015. Web. 26 July 2015.

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Roche, Lisa Riley. "Draper Offers Vision of Prison Site Development."
DeseretNews.com. Deseret News, 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 02 Aug. 2015.