About UCI

Correctional Industries, or inmate work programs, have been a part of prison structure and life since the territorial prison of the late 1800s.

Early work consisted of chain gangs and later involved manufacturing license plates and producing signs. Today, Utah Correctional Industries is a division of the Utah Department of Corrections. It operates 12 work programs at the state’s two prison facilities with approximately 400 inmate work participants producing products and services for state and local government agencies.

Product lines include office furniture and seating, printing, signs, license plates, textiles, silk screening, and embroidery. Services include inmate commissary, document scanning and data entry.

UCI was created as a separate division of the UDC in 1985. It was established with the legislative intent to accomplish four objectives:

Reduce offender recidivism: UCI works to provide inmates work opportunities to help them succeed upon release from prison. This is accomplished through allowing offenders the ability to make successful choices by providing them meaningful jobs in a real-world business environment. Through the teaching of job skills and positive work ethics, it has the ability to make lasting changes.

Train incarcerated offenders in general work habits and skills that increase their employment prospects when released from prison: The legislature has illustrated that it is in the best interest of the State of Utah to develop job opportunities to further enhance the rehabilitation of inmates. The Legislature further finds that a proper means to accomplish this is through opportunities created from Utah Correctional Industries. Work Programs for Prisoners U.C.A. 64-9b-1. UCI has developed operations that provide training and skills through hands-on experience and industry standard instruction. Similar to life outside the prison, inmates fill out employment applications for current job availabilities. Those that meet the minimum qualifications are interviewed. Job placement is determined by an offender’s history, privilege level, and performance in the interview. Once given a work opportunity, inmates are expected to learn and understand the operation, machinery, and work philosophy. They are given every opportunity to learn the latest standards and industry practices. Inmates can learn manufacturing techniques, operations management, purchasing, computer programs, customer service, construction trades, and many other skills. UCI provides leading edge technology, machinery, and trained professional staff to enhance the inmate’s skills and performance.

Be a self-supporting organization: All expenditures necessary for the administration of UCI — including salaries, overhead expenses, acquisition of assets, and raw materials needed for production — are paid out of the Utah Correctional Industries Fund. This fund is based on retained earnings and revenues generated through the sale of products and services. These funds are separate from the Department of Corrections, from which UCI has no direct fiscal impact or influence.

Generate enough revenue from the sale of goods and services to cover all operating expenses: By selling products and services to state and local government subdivisions and efficiently managing internal operation procedures costs, UCI is able fulfill its financial operating obligations. UCI manufactures products and services that are desired and necessary for government business to function. Research is done to ensure that market trends are identified and that customer needs are met. As with any business, UCI strives to be competitive in all aspects, including price, quality, lead-time, customer service, product diversification, and availability.

UCI strives to market current products and services by continually researching potential markets for expansion. The more work obtained from government agencies, the greater the demand will be for additional inmate work participants to help accomplish UCI’s mission.