SB 260 Moves Through the House
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.
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