Utah State Prison nearing full capacity

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah's state prison system is nearing full capacity and that could result in some inmates being released as early as this summer before their sentences are up.

Department of Corrections Executive Director Tom Patterson told a legislative committee Wednesday there are only 108 beds left for prison inmates. The prison system has about 6,800 beds statewide.

Patterson says in the past two months, 74 inmates have come into prison and he's expecting at least 10 new inmates each month.

Once the prison system is full, Patterson says inmates will be housed for 45 days in gyms and open spaces, which pose a greater security threat for guards. Once those 45 days are up, prisoners will start being released early.

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