Who is the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition?

Our mission is to reverse the trend of mass incarceration in Colorado. We are a coalition of nearly 7,000 individual members and over 100 faith and community organizations who have united to stop perpetual prison expansion in Colorado through policy and sentence reform.

Our chief areas of interest include drug policy reform, women in prison, racial injustice, the impact of incarceration on children and families, the problems associated with re-entry and stopping the practice of using private prisons in our state.

If you would like to be involved please go to our website and become a member.


Friday, May 04, 2007

SB 260 Moves Through the House

Prison bill moves to next House vote

DENVER - State lawmakers are about to make it a little harder to go to prison.

The House on Thursday gave its initial OK to Senate Bill 260, which raises the threshold for many crimes of theft to be considered a felony.

For example, stealing a car worth at least $15,000 is currently a Class 4 felony. The bill would raise the threshold to $20,000.

Sponsors tried unsuccessfully to reduce sentences for convicts who escape. Almost all escapes are from community corrections and halfway houses. Escapees draw a mandatory sentence that begins once their original time has been served.

Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, wanted to give judges discretion over escape sentences to keep minor criminals from going back to prison.

"The person who's late for three or four hours can be charged with the same thing" as convicts who go on the run, Carroll said.

But representatives defeated the plan amid fears that it could encourage escapes.

"We need to have public confidence in community corrections. It's an important part of our corrections system down in Durango," said Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango.

The bill is part of Gov. Bill Ritter's efforts to curb the spiraling costs of prisons. It was introduced April 24 and has quickly moved through the Legislature.

The Legislature's analysts say SB 260 could save the state more than $5 million during the next five years by keeping people out of prison or imposing shorter sentences.

The Senate already has approved the bill. It faces one more House vote today, on what could be the last day of the legislative session.

Durango Herald

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