Department of Criminal Justice
Created in 1983 and recodified in 2026, the Department of Criminal Justice (DOCJ) mission is to connect and collaborate with system partners on criminal and juvenile justice policy with the goal of reducing crime and delinquency in Utah. The Department gathers research and data, administers justice grants, and oversees stakeholder boards and commissions - including the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice - to ensure current and proposed policies are based on sound data and input from all perspectives. The Department is staffed by various experts in their respective fields who assist the Department in fulfilling its duties, while leading and participating in more than 20 commissions, boards, and task forces across the justice system.
2026 VSC Study
HB244 (2023) appropriated funding for this study to help the VSC recommend important changes in victim services. An RFP was published and received five responses. The University of Utah Criminal Justice Center submitted the successful proposal. The University of Utah Criminal Justice Center in collaboration with the Economic Evaluation Unit prepared the following study, included in five reports which can be viewed below.
Research Highlight: Juvenile Justice Risk Level and Response
Asset Forfeiture 2025 Report
