Ground Breaking On CSP II
CCJRC still strongly opposes the building of CSP II. First of all it's a control unit that we simply don't need. People are languishing for YEARS in CSP for behavior violations in the other prisons. It's inhuman to keep people locked up for 23 hours a day 7 days a week. Our money could be much better spent on re-entry centers and support for people when they are released.
We could reduce recidivism and reduce reliance on control unit prisons to manage the population growth.
Colorado corrections officials today said construction will begin on a 948-bed maximum-security prison in Cañon City this fall.The prison, called Colorado State Penitentiary II, will be built adjacent to the Centennial correctional facility and across the road from the existing Colorado State Penitentiary, state Department of Corrections officials said this morning.
Construction had been delayed after funding for the prison, originally approved in 2003, was questioned by a citizens group. A recent court ruling, however, said the funding method — certificates of participation — was legal, ending a two-year legal battle.
A formal groundbreaking will occur soon, said a release from corrections executive director Ari Zavaras.
The DOC will manage the project, assisted by a program management firm, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. The original penitentiary was built under a similar management structure in an effort to save taxpayer money, Zavaras said.
The project is expected to be completed in early 2010 after construction begins this November.
Contractors are urged to contact the DOC if they're interested in participating in any portion of the project.
"The approach will open the project to any and all contractors who would like to participate," Zavaras said. "One of the most appealing outcomes of this construction approach is local Colorado contractors can participate right along with larger, national contractors."
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
2 comments:
I could not agree more. There should be an Federal and State investigation. Unfortunately the legislature is part time and goes off to China for junkets. This is simply keeping the DOC employed. The "dangerous" criminals they put in CSP are NOT, I repeat NOT necessary to be in that type of facility. If they would spend the money on drug rehab, like would not need this facility. The DOC also needs investigation as to how they classify inmates. A non-violent drug offender is locked up for 2 years 23 hours a day because they are mis-classified by some guard who does not like the race or tattoos of the inmate.
I was the first to use Certificates of Participation in the State of California, as Director of Finance and City Treasurer of Delano, CA. I used them like revenue anticipation notes to consolidate several years of anticipated revenues and get a larger construction contract. I mention it because the City had to actually give the lenders title to a several inch portion of the pavement of the street! I also had the City Council promise that Gas Tax revenues would be solely dedicated for the next three years to paying off these loans. It is a debt of the agency that gets around not being voted upon by the voters!
I am assuming those are some of the issues that were brought up to the court, besides the issues mentioned in the article...
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