Judgment Provisions

Utah Code tit. 77, ch. 77-19, pt. 77-19-P1

in effect

Utah Code § 77-19-1 Judgment for fine or costs -- Enforcement.

77-19-1. Judgment for fine or costs -- Enforcement. If the judgment is for a fine or costs when allowed by statute and the fine is not paid as ordered by the court, execution or garnishment may be issued as on a judgment in a civil action. The prosecuting attorney, upon written request of the court clerk, shall effectuate collection through execution or garnishment when the fine or costs have not been paid as ordered by the court. Enacted by Chapter 15, 1980 General Session

Utah Code § 77-19-2 Judgment of imprisonment -- Commitment.

77-19-2. Judgment of imprisonment -- Commitment. If the judgment is for imprisonment, the sheriff of the county or other appropriate custodial officer designated by the court shall, upon receipt of a certified copy of the judgment, deliver the defendant to the warden of the state prison or keeper of the jail. Such custodial officer shall also deliver a certified copy of the judgment and take a receipt from the warden or keeper of the jail for the defendant and return it to the court. Enacted by Chapter 15, 1980 General Session

Utah Code § 77-19-3 Special release from city or county jail -- Purposes.

77-19-3. Special release from city or county jail -- Purposes. (1) Any person incarcerated in any city or county jail may, in accordance with the release policy of the facility, be released from jail during those hours which are reasonable and necessary to accomplish any of the purposes under Subsection (2) if: (a) the offense is not one for which release is prohibited under state law; and (b) the judge has not entered an order prohibiting a special release. (2) The custodial authority at the jail may release an inmate who qualifies under Subsection (1) for: (a) working at his employment; (b) seeking employment; (c) attending an educational institution; (d) obtaining necessary medical treatment; or (e) any other reasonable purpose as determined by the custodial authority of the jail. Amended by Chapter 148, 2007 General Session

Utah Code § 77-19-4 Special release from city or county jail -- Conditions and limitations.

77-19-4. Special release from city or county jail -- Conditions and limitations. (1) All released prisoners under Section 77-19-3 are in the custody of the custodial authority and are subject at any time to being returned to jail, for good cause. (2) The judge may order that the prisoner: (a) pay money earned from employment during the jail term to those persons he is legally responsible to support; or (b) retain sufficient money to pay his costs of transportation, meals, and other incidental and necessary expenses related to his special release. (3) The custodial authority of the jail shall establish all other conditions of special release. (4) During all hours when the prisoner is not serving the function for which he is awarded release time, he shall be confined to jail. (5) The prisoner shall obtain his own transportation to and from the place where he performs the function for which he is released. Amended by Chapter 148, 2007 General Session Amended by Chapter 306, 2007 General Session

Utah Code § 77-19-5 Special release from city or county jail -- Revocation.

77-19-5. Special release from city or county jail -- Revocation. The judge may, for good cause, revoke any release time previously awarded, and shall notify the prisoner that, if the prisoner makes written request, a hearing shall be afforded to the prisoner to challenge the revocation. Amended by Chapter 302, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 77-19-6 Sentence of death -- Warrant -- Delivery of warrant -- Determination of execution time.

77-19-6. Sentence of death -- Warrant -- Delivery of warrant -- Determination of execution time. (1) (a) When a judgment of death is rendered for a defendant, the sentencing court shall: (i) immediately transmit a statement of the conviction and sentence and a summary of the evidence given at trial to the Board of Pardons and Parole; and (ii) draw and deliver a warrant, signed by the judge and attested by the clerk under seal of the court, to the sheriff of the county where the conviction occurred. (b) The sheriff shall deliver the warrant and a certified copy of the judgment to the executive director of the Department of Corrections, or the executive director's designee, at the time of delivering the defendant to the custody of the Department of Corrections. (2) (a) Subject to Subsection (2)(b), the warrant shall state the conviction, the sentence, the method of execution, and the day on which the sentence is to be executed. (b) The day on which a sentence is to be executed may not be: (i) sooner than 30 days after, or later than 60 days after, the day on which the sentencing court issues the warrant; or (ii) a Sunday, Monday, or a legal holiday under Section 63G-1-301. (3) The Department of Corrections shall determine the hour, within the appointed day, at which the sentence is to be executed. Amended by Chapter 345, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 77-19-8 Sentence of death, when suspended, and by whom.

77-19-8. Sentence of death, when suspended, and by whom. (1) Except as provided in this section, a court, tribunal, or officer, other than the governor or the Board of Pardons and Parole, may not stay or suspend the execution of a sentence of death. (2) A court may only stay the execution of a sentence of death as described in Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 27. (3) (a) The executive director of the Department of Corrections, or the executive director's designee, may temporarily suspend the execution of a sentence of death under Section 77-19-202 if the individual sentenced to death appears to be incompetent or pregnant. (b) A temporary suspension under Subsection (3)(a) shall end if the individual is determined to be: (i) competent; (ii) not pregnant; or (iii) no longer incompetent or pregnant. (4) If a stay is vacated or expires before the day on which the sentence is to be executed and the sentence remains in force, the issuance of a new order of execution and warrant is not required to execute the sentence. Amended by Chapter 345, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 77-19-9 Sentence of death not executed -- Order for execution.

77-19-9. Sentence of death not executed -- Order for execution. (1) If for any reason a sentence of death has not been executed and remains in force, the attorney general, or the county or district attorney in the county or district in which the conviction occurred, may apply for an order of execution from the court in which the conviction occurred. (2) (a) Within 21 days after the application is filed, the court shall: (i) subject to Subsections (2)(b) and (c), enter an order requiring the executive director of the Department of Corrections, or the executive director's designee, to ensure that the sentence is executed on a specified day if no legal reason exists against the execution of a sentence for death; and (ii) draw and deliver another warrant for the execution of the sentence for death in accordance with Section 77-19-6. (b) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c), the specified day described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) may not be: (i) sooner than 30 days after, or later than 60 days after, the day on which the court enters the order for execution; or (ii) a Sunday, Monday, or legal holiday under Section 63G-1-301. (c) If the defendant seeks review of a finding of competency by the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court does not set the finding of competency aside, the specified day described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) may not be: (i) sooner than 15 days after, or later than 30 days after, the day on which the court enters the order for execution; and (ii) a Sunday, Monday, or legal holiday under Section 63G-1-301. (d) No legal reason exists under Subsection (2)(a)(i) if: (i) there is no stay in effect for the sentence; and (ii) there is no procedural defect in the warrant application process. (3) The Department of Corrections shall determine the hour, within the specified day, at which the sentence is to be executed. Amended by Chapter 345, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 77-19-10 Sentence of death -- Location and procedures for execution.

77-19-10. Sentence of death -- Location and procedures for execution. (1) The executive director of the Department of Corrections, or the executive director's designee, shall ensure that the method of a sentence of death specified in the warrant or as required under Section 77-18-113 is carried out at a secure correctional facility operated by the department and at an hour determined by the department on the date specified in the warrant. (2) When the sentence of death is to be carried out by lethal intravenous injection, the executive director of the department or a designee shall select two or more persons trained in accordance with accepted medical practices to administer intravenous injections, who shall each administer a continuous intravenous injection, consisting of one or more substances of a type and amount that is sufficiently effective to cause death without a substantial risk of severe pain. (3) If the sentence of death is to be carried out by firing squad under Subsection 77-18-113(2), (3), or (4) the executive director of the department or a designee shall select a five-person firing squad of peace officers. (4) Compensation for persons administering intravenous injections and for members of a firing squad under Subsection 77-18-113(2), (3), or (4) shall be in an amount determined by the director of the Division of Finance. (5) Death under this section shall be certified by a physician. (6) The department shall adopt and enforce rules governing procedures for the execution of sentences of death. Amended by Chapter 345, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 77-19-11 Who may be present -- Photographic and recording equipment.

77-19-11. Who may be present -- Photographic and recording equipment. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Close relative of the deceased victim" means: (i) the spouse of the victim; (ii) a parent or stepparent of the victim; (iii) a brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, child, or stepchild of the victim; and (iv) any person who had a close relationship with the deceased victim, or with a close relative of the victim, upon the recommendation of the victim assistance coordinator for the Department of Corrections or for the Office of the Attorney General. (b) "Director" means the executive director of the Department of Corrections, or the director's designee. (2) At the discretion of the director, the following persons may attend the execution: (a) the prosecuting attorney, or a designated deputy, of the county in which the defendant committed the offense for which the defendant is being executed; (b) no more than two law enforcement officials from the county in which the defendant committed the offense for which the defendant is being executed; (c) the attorney general or a designee; (d) religious representatives, friends, or relatives designated by the defendant, not exceeding a total of five persons; and (e) unless approved by the director, no more than five close relatives of the deceased victim, as selected by the director, but giving priority in the order listed in Subsection (1)(a). (3) The persons listed in Subsection (2) may not be required to attend, nor may any of them attend as a matter of right. (4) The director shall permit the attendance at the execution of members of the press and broadcast news media: (a) as named by the director in accordance with rules of the department; and (b) with the agreement of the selected news media members that they serve as a pool for other members of the news media. (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), photographic or recording equipment is not permitted at the execution site until the execution is completed, the body is removed, and the site has been restored to an orderly condition. However, the physical arrangements for the execution may not be disturbed. (b) Audio recording equipment may be used by the department for the purpose of recording the defendant's last words. (c) The department shall permanently destroy the recording made under Subsection (5)(b) not later than 24 hours after the completion of the execution. (d) A violation of this subsection is a class B misdemeanor. (6) All persons in attendance are subject to reasonable search as a condition of attendance. (7) (a) The following persons may also attend the execution: (i) staff as determined by the director; and (ii) no more than three correctional officials from other states that are preparing for executions, but no more than two correctional officials may be from any one state, as designated by the director. (b) A person younger than 18 years old may not attend. (8) The department shall adopt rules governing the attendance of persons, including the number of media representatives, at the execution. These rules shall be in accordance with this section. Amended by Chapter 302, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 77-19-12 Return upon death warrant.

77-19-12. Return upon death warrant. After the execution, the executive director of the Department of Corrections or the executive director's designee shall make a return upon the death warrant, showing the time, place, and manner in which it was executed. Amended by Chapter 302, 2025 General Session

Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title77/Chapter19/77-19-P1.html?v=C77-19-P1_1800010118000101Fetched: 10/26/2026