Salt Lake City, UT – Doug Stewart Griffith, a convicted drunk driver with a long history of DUI offenses, has been released on parole from the Utah State Prison in Gunnison. Griffith’s release comes after a year and a half behind bars, which included time served for a series of arrests spanning multiple states. His parole, effective March 25, 2025, was moved up due to his participation in residential substance abuse treatment and the decision by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole to approve his early release.
Griffith’s release is contingent upon his relocation to Washington state, where he will be supervised under an interstate compact for parole. This agreement allows Utah authorities to monitor Griffith’s compliance with parole conditions through Washington state parole officers, who will report to Utah’s Adult Probation and Parole. Any violations will be reported to Utah’s Board of Pardons and Parole.
The Utah Department of Corrections confirmed that Griffith was released from the prison facility at 9:16 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25. According to Glen Mills, Director of Communications and Government Relations for the Utah Department of Corrections, Griffith’s parole conditions include GPS monitoring and alcohol sensor monitoring for the first 180 days, with the cost of the monitoring services falling to Griffith.
Griffith, 39, was convicted of a third-degree felony for driving under the influence (DUI) with two or more prior offenses within the last 10 years. He was also convicted of unlawfully installing a tracking device on a Lehi police sergeant’s vehicle. These crimes contributed to Griffith’s lengthy incarceration, which was extended beyond his minimum sentence due to his elevated risk to public safety.
In several instances, Griffith attempted to evade arrest by either physically resisting or pretending to pass out. In one notable case, he even performed push-ups on the ground in a failed attempt to convince St. George police officers that he was sober.
In 2024, Griffith was successfully prosecuted for DUI by Utah County Deputy Attorney Ben Kearns, a case that led to his final conviction and imprisonment. Griffith’s past includes multiple drunk driving arrests, and within hours of being released from the Purgatory Correctional Facility after a short jail sentence for a DUI in St. George, he was arrested again in Spanish Fork for drunk driving.
Though Griffith’s parole has now been approved, it remains unclear when he will officially relocate to Washington state. His release marks a significant chapter in a long history of legal troubles for Griffith, who will now face strict monitoring and the ongoing challenge of rehabilitation as he attempts to reintegrate into society.
As of now, Griffith’s movements and behavior will be closely tracked to ensure he adheres to the conditions set forth by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, and any violations will likely lead to a swift return to prison.