Utah State Prison - Oquirrh

The Oquirrh (pronounced "Oh-kurr") facility is part of the Utah State Prison complex in Draper, Utah, and it is managed by the Utah Department of Corrections. Oquirrh is comprised of five buildings on the southernmost end of the Utah State Prison complex and has the capacity to  house 850 inmates.

This facility includes an outdoor recreation yard, a gym, a non-denominational chapel, and a Native American sweat lodge. There is also a chamber within Oquirrh where the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole holds hearings. 

One of the Utah State Prison's two geriatric dormitories for aging offenders (55+) is at Oquirrh. The prison makes an effort to pair elderly offenders who may not be able to care for themselves with younger, more capable offenders who can assist them with daily living tasks. 

Not only does this system pair up older offenders with younger caretakers, it also protects the less able offenders from those who might exploit their disabilities or weaknesses for their own gain. The Oquirrh unit is equipped with special ADA accommodations.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The visiting hours at Utah State Prison rotate based on inmate last name, unit, and facility. Please contact the Visiting Office at 801-576-7014 for visiting hours for your inmate.

Visiting Applications

An inmate can send you a visiting application or you may download one on the Visitor Application Forms page. Fill out the form and submit it to: Inmate Visiting Office, P. O. Box 250, Draper, UT 84020.  

When you pass a background check, you will be added to the inmate's approved visitors list. Approval takes approximately three to five weeks.

Visiting Rules

All visitors must pass through a metal detector. Visitors are also subject to search of their person, personal belongings, and vehicle upon entering all prison facilities. Visitation may be denied for failure to submit to such a search request.

General Visitor Rules: 

• Visitors may access only those areas specifically designated as visiting areas.
• Personal property such as purses, wallets, paper money, coats, sweaters (used as an outer garment), blankets, writing paper, writing instruments, pictures, letters, etc. are not permitted in the visiting area. 
• Visitors are allowed to bring in two vehicle keys. The keys should be on a small keyring.
• Any visitor found in possession of nuisance or illegal contraband may have their visiting privileges suspended, restricted or revoked and their name removed from the inmate's visiting list pending a review. Visitors with illegal contraband are referred to the Shift Commander for criminal prosecution.
• Visitors with babies may bring no more than one transparent baby bottle and no more than two diapers into the visiting area; sippy cups are not allowed.
• Tobacco products, matches and lighters are prohibited in the visiting areas.
• Food items (gum, candy, etc.) from outside the prison are not allowed.

Processing Visitors Entering Visiting Area:

• Visitors 16 years of age and older must present a government-issued identification card prior to being permitted to visit.
• Visitors are screened with a metal detector, and must clear the metal detector, prior to visiting.
• Visitors are subject to a search (i.e., ionizer, property, vehicle search) upon entering the prison and/or visiting area. Visitation may be denied for failure to submit to a search request. Visitors may refuse a search at any time, but shall immediately leave prison property and shall not be allowed to visit.
• Visitor access should not be permitted during any scheduled visiting session if less than 30 minutes remain in the visiting session.
• A maximum number of five visitors, including minors, will be allowed to visit an inmate per visiting session.

Dress Code

Failure to follow the dress code could result in visit cancelation.

• Visitors must be fully clothed including footwear
• All clothing shall be knee length when standing including slits in garments
• Undergarments must be worn at all times and cannot be exposed
• Religious attire may be worn but is subject to removal so it can be searched

The following types of clothing is not allowed:

• Any clothing, taken as a whole, that resembles inmate issued clothing;
• Transparent, tight, revealing or sheer clothing;
• Any items that may not pass the metal detector;
• Any type of shirt that shows the bare shoulders, midriff or back and low cut shirts that show cleavage;
• Clothing that displays gang insignia, offensive slogans or obscene words, phrases or pictures;
• Hats, hoods, caps, hooded tops and/or jackets with hoods and
• No more than three items of jewelry.

Inmates are allowed to receive mail as soon as they arrive at prison. The following types of envelopes, paper or stationary, and cards are prohibited:

• Color envelopes (including manila and multi-layer envelopes)
• Color paper or stationary
• Greeting cards, card stock or other multi-layered paper or stationary

Mail with paint, chalk, crayons, markers or highlighters used on the incoming envelope or its contents will be denied.

Inmates are allowed to have 25 photos in their possession; the photos can not be larger than 8x10, may not be Polaroids and must not be pornographic in nature. Inmates may not have photos of or including themselves. Inmates may not receive packages.

For questions about books, magazines or other inmate property issues, contact Inmate Property at 801-576-7951 or 801-576-7952.

For information on ordering MP3 or music for an inmate, click here.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

Programs For Inmates

The Department of Corrections begins preparing inmates for release on the day they enter the prison system. It begins with assessments in Receiving & Orientation, where inmates' education, treatment and life skills needs are evaluated. 

A Case Action Plan is developed that outlines the inmate's educational, program and treatment needs and to set goals for the inmate during his or her incarceration. Progress and accomplishments are noted in the inmate's file, which is reviewed by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.

Education: The Canyons School District operates the South Park Academy at the Utah State Prison. The Department also offers vocational training through partnerships with the Davis Technical College; Snow College; and the Uintah Basin Technical College. 

At the Utah State Prison, male inmates may earn certificates in seven areas: Automotive Technology; Machinist Technician; Maintenance Technician; Welding Technology; Business Technology; and Culinary Arts. Female inmates may earn certificates in two programs (Culinary Arts and Business Technology). 

Employment: Inmates, depending on their privilege level, may work basic jobs in their housing units or apply for jobs with Utah Correctional Industries (UCI), which are usually higher paying. 

Within prison walls, inmates may work at the Commissary, the sign shop, the furniture shop, the license plate shop, the print shop and the upholstery shop. UCI also operates the Serving Time Cafe, a restaurant staffed by female inmates and open to the public. It is located next to the prison at 14072 Pony Express Road in Draper. 

Life skills: Classes include Thinking for a Change, Communication, Computer Literacy, Relationships, Relapse Prevention, Career Power, Financial Literacy, Anger Management, Parenting, Impact of Crime on Victims, Domestic Violence, Victim Empathy, and Thinking Errors. Initial assessments may identify courses an inmate needs to overcome specific challenges.

Religious Services: To meet the spiritual needs of inmates, the Utah Department of Corrections works with volunteers who oversee activities, programs and religious services. They also employ part-time chaplains to provide ecclesiastical counseling and non-denominational services.

Pictures of Utah State Prison - Oquirrh

Careers at Utah State Prison - Oquirrh