The Draper prison was expected to run out of space for women by 2007. Instead, the booming growth rates suddenly leveled off and 50 beds sit empty.

Corrections officials are uncertain what exactly has brought the relief, but they're focusing on fending off future booms by making sure when women get out of prison, they stay out for good.

Spokeswoman Angie Welling said 65 to 75 percent of released prisoners return to prison at some point. But when they go through some form of programming, the figure plummets to about 30 percent.

"We owe it to these women to make sure they have access to the resources necessary to reconstruct their lives," said Craig Burr, director of the Corrections department's Division of Programming.

With little help from state funding for the preventative and rehabilitative programs, the department is now leaning on community organizations to bolster life-skills and usher them into crime-free lives.

Corrections has combined a smattering of help through an umbrella program called YPREP (Your Parole Requires Extensive Preparation). It allows women to sign up for aid in building resumes, finding housing and getting medical care among other things.

Deputy Warden for Prison Programming Lee Liston said it's "heartening" to see the extent of help from the community, especially during an economic downturn.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is one organization sending volunteers to help thanks to a federal grant. Liston noted that if there are 180 women in prison, that translates to about 400 children without a mom.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah spokeswoman Michele Beckstrand said there is a lot of shame and anger in families when women are incarcerated.

"Sometimes the impact in having another caring adult to step in is beyond words," Beckstrand said. "A mentor is that friend, that shoulder to lean on."

Former prison inmate Lillian Rodriguez said she saw her son's grades and self-esteem rise steadily as he went to basketball games and lunch or bowled and went roller skating with his "big brother."

While community organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters want to expand the prison program and help locked up fathers, Beckstrand says they are constrained by a lengthy waiting list. They especially lack men to mentor boys.

Other efforts to reform female prisoners include substance-abuse programs, therapeutic communities and "Bridges out of Poverty" -- an effort run by Utah homelessness czar Lloyd Pendleton to create plans to get women into housing, land a job and be productive.

"We're seeing changes -- significant changes," Pendleton said.

Utah advocate for the poor Pamela Atkinson adds that YPREP's targeted programs are "literally changing people's lives."

Despite the aid, realistic Corrections officials say it's only a matter of time until figures rebound and the state runs out of space at the Draper Timpanogos female housing area.

"We are likely going to need another women's facility," said Corrections Deputy Director Mike Haddon, who added that officials would prefer to keep women close to their families along the Wasatch Front since "they'll be a mother or daughter again at some time."

But it's unclear how soon Corrections could build any relief.

Officials already have plans to expand the Gunnison prison and open a halfway house for parolees to stop the male inmate population from spilling over. And all those goals come amid budget blows that recently forced hefty department cutbacks.

"We realize we can't build our way out of this," Haddon said. "We just try to provide as much programming or education, so when it comes time to go back into the community they're better citizens and more likely to succeed."

As a former inmate, Rodriguez praised the prison for its efforts to give women what they need to reclaim their lives.

"We just need to know there are people out there who care," Rodriguez said. "We need to know we're worth it."