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, January 28, 2008

Police Involvement In Reentry A Plus - Seattle

...............In many ways, police involvement in re-entry is a no-brainer. The primary role of police is to maintain the peace and make the environment safe for all. While not every released prisoner commits new crimes, those who do have a direct impact on public safety, stoking citizens' fears of victimization and reducing the public's confidence in both police and community corrections. Who better to work with former prisoners than the police, who are already dealing with them on a daily basis?

When police work expands to encompass both the surveillance and support of returning prisoners, the possibilities for effective crime control multiply. Police can identify the positive and negative influences associated with the people, property, and places in returning prisoners' communities. They are likely to know which local businesses are willing to hire ex-prisoners and which religious institutions provide moral and tangible support.

Beat officers are particularly well positioned to support successful prisoner re-entry. Aware of gang networks, drug markets, and the associates of former prisoners, they can let community supervision partners know when former prisoners may be heading down the wrong path. These exchanges signal that former prisoners are being watched but can also send the message that "we want to see you succeed."................

The Seattle PI

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

if the deptartment of corrections actually did rehabilitation while the person were incarcerated there wouldnt be this big need to after there release. All cops and probation people do is screw up employmwnt opportunitys for the person getting out.DJW

Anonymous said...

This is a small step in the right direction if, the intent of the peace officers involved is to be of support and encouragement to the recently released individual. However, this example of support which, by the way, should be extended to every individual upon re-entering society should first and foremost come from the government itself. There is something terribly wrong with a supposedly "faith based" government refusing to hire ex-offenders after the offender has "paid" his or her debt to society. How can we expect members of the private sector to hire ex offenders when the government refuses to extend employment opportunities? A lot of hypocrisy in this democracy. No one validates the criminal justice system more than the person who has had his or her freedom compromised. The government's blatant refusal to hire ex-offenders is a pretty strong statement about arguably, the most inherent fundamental flaw in a nefarious unjust criminal justice system. There is no such thing as a "ex-felon"...Only the grave pardons. GIVE US FREE! -Ahma Daeus