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.


Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Parole Audit Given Green Light

State auditors got the green light Tuesday to start probing the practices of the state parole board, following the revelation this year that the number of early releases has recently jumped by about 40 percent.

Prompted by a seven-question inquiry penned by statehouse Republicans, the Legislative Audit Committee voted to allow the preliminary fact-finding. Staff could report its initial findings as early as June, when panel members will decide whether to launch a full investigation.

About 115 more inmates a month walked out of prison on early release in 2007 compared with the previous year.

Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, said the increase "raises important public-safety concerns" and suggests that the early paroles may be a way to alleviate budget woes in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Not so, said department spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti.

"Our primary responsibility is public safety," Sanguinetti said, pointing out that the head of the state parole board is a lifetime law enforcement officer.

"He would not want to release anybody that (was not) ready to be released."

She attributed the jump to a lack of weekend transportation from two jail facilities. The change in bus service, which happened in 2005, means inmates must be released on Friday if their mandated release date falls on a weekend.


Denver Post

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

No, David Michaud is actually violating state law by putting those that should be on parole, not in discretionary releases, but back in prison for an extra 6 months for snapping dish towels!??
An audit is needed, but on the opposite side, why are they violating SB252 EVERY DAY?

Anonymous said...

public safety my ASS...big business is more like it...