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.


Monday, June 25, 2007

Rep. Roberts Named to Commission

State Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, was appointed this week to serve on the newly formed Criminal and Juvenile Justice Commission. The commission, formed earlier this year under the Department of Public Safety, is charged with rehabilitating Colorado's criminal and juvenile justice system

The commission became effective earlier this month when Gov. Bill Ritter signed House Bill 07-1538, of which Roberts was a co-sponsor. It will report its findings to the governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president of the Senate, and the chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court.

Roberts was named to the commission by House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker. In a prepared statement, May said, "During her time in the Legislature, Ellen has developed a reputation as one who can generate creative solutions to complex problems. I am certain that this talent, coupled with her legal background, will make her an invaluable member of this commission."

As a member of the commission, Roberts will examine data on Colorado's prison population and sentencing guidelines, and will consider alternatives to incarceration and make policy recommendations based on the findings.

"Unfortunately, the current system is no longer financially sustainable," Roberts said in the statement. "By taking a look at the facts and building consensus among the experts, I think we have a real opportunity to enact positive and lasting reforms."

The commission will consist of 26 members, including experts in criminal justice, mental health, drug abuse, victim rights, juvenile justice and other relevant disciplines. It will meet monthly during the next five years and submit an annual report of its findings with recommendations.


Durango

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

There isnt anything anyone can do that will help Colorado inmates get any rehab or anything else until some governor has the backbone to straighten out the dept of corrections. That organization is corrupt as hell. There mind set of the DOC worker is an inmate is our SLAVE. If they dont like an inmate they harrase and abuse them. The prisons are run by the Guards union. My question is why are the womens prison full of male guards??? Also why are the non violent housed with the violent category.

Anonymous said...

What Colorado is doing about the prison crisis is nothing. Get rid of the 26 member commission of experts and ask some people who really know whats going on in your prisons. It doesnt take 5 years of meetings to clean up your system.
I can tell you what the first step needs to be and that is for the legislature to go back and amend the act of 1999 that gave the exexcutive director the power to control all investigations, and also all of the inmates grievences.
What i am telling you is there are no checks and balances in your system. The guard or officers union controls and enslaves your prisoners!!! Total system of CRONYISM.