CCJRC Pushing the Agenda

CCJRC PUSHING THE AGENDA!

Last Friday, CCJRC participated in a press conference at the Capitol called “The Jails are Full—Now What?” This coming together of community leaders, criminal justice professionals, and elected officials shows the consensus that is building to address the crisis in corrections and actually do something to stop runaway growth in the prison population and prison budget. Nearly 100 people attended and we thank you!

Other speakers included: Mary Ellen Johnson (Pendulum Foundation), Sheriff Terry Maketa (El Paso County Sheriff), Maureen Cain (Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association), Mike Krause (Independence Institute), Jeanette Holtham (Youth Transformation Center), George DelGrosso (Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council), Representatives Buffy McFayden (D-Pueblo), Mike Merrifield (D-Colorado Springs), Cheri Jahn (D-Jefferson), Terrance Carroll (D-Denver), and Senator Brandon Shaffer (D-Boulder). Many thanks to Mary Ellen Johnson, Jeanette Holtham and Alma Linda for organizing the press conference.

Suggestions offered included sentencing reform, parole reform, expanding restorative justice, and expanding funding for substance abuse/mental health treatment, and re-entry services for people leaving jail and prison. If you haven’t seen the article from the Rocky Mountain News, click here….

CCJRC DELIVERS RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNOR RITTER!
Prior to that press conference, CCJRC delivered a letter to Governor Ritter outlining specific policy recommendations that would help to slow or stop the growth of the prison population in Colorado.

CCJRC is very encouraged by Governor Ritter’s prioritization of reducing the prison population and reducing recidivism and the high revocation rates. Recently, CCJRC met with Senators Gordon (majority leader) and Shaffer (judiciary committee chair), Pete Weir (Head of Public Safety) and Steffanie Villafuerte (Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff). We were advised at this meeting that the Governor is serious about wanting to run legislation this session. We appreciate his soliciting ideas from a wide range of people, including CCJRC. CCJRC’s suggestions were:

SUGGESTION 1: Reduce revocation rates for people on probation, parole, and community corrections.

SUGGESTION 2: Parole more people prior to their mandatory release date.

SUGGESTION 3: Revise the current model of mandatory parole.

SUGGESTION 4: Lower the crime classification for use/possession of drugs to a misdemeanor.

SUGGESTION 5: Increase funding for substance abuse and mental health treatment.

SUGGESTION 6: Repeal the mandatory, consecutive sentence for “escape” when the factual basis is other than an escape from a prison, jail or other locked facility.

SUGGESTION 7: Expand eligibility for earned time to people in prison following a parole revocation, people on re-parole, and people on parole for a violent offense.

SUGGESTION 8: Conduct additional research into the causes behind the disproportionate increase in the growth rate of the women’s prison population and the overrepresentation of people of color in the criminal justice system.

To read the full text of CCJRC’s recommendations, click here…..
Cover Letter Letter to the Governor