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The Utah Department of Corrections' staffing has rebounded after severe shortages, executive director Jared Garcia said Tuesday.

The department also saw 37 cadets graduate Tuesday, which marked the largest class in recent years, Garcia noted.

Improved compensation, recruitment, and a culture shift are credited for the staffing surge despite budgeting issues.

DRAPER — The Utah Department of Corrections reports that after a period of dangerously low staffing, numbers have rebounded.

According to Executive Director Jared Garcia, the department was down more than 400 officers just a few years ago.

"I would call our staffing shortages severe," he said. "When we arrived, being down over 400 officers at the time was extremely challenging."

The department created a plan to add

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