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, August 19, 2009

Getting Out Early

The Denver Post

Gov. Bill Ritter proposes to save almost $19 million by letting as many as 3,100 inmates out of prison six months earlier than their mandatory release dates and halting the supervision of some parolees.

But the public need not worry, said Ritter, formerly Denver's district attorney.

"People coming out of prison are going to have more supervision tomorrow than they did yesterday," he said.

That's because the state plans to add almost nine new positions to provide intensive parole supervision.

Ritter stressed that sex offenders are not eligible to leave supervision because they face a lifetime parole.

The Democratic governor announced his corrections proposals Tuesday as part of his effort to reduce a $318 million budget shortfall.

Budget officials estimate about 3,100 inmates will be eligible for the early release, provided the state Parole Board grants them parole, said Katherine Sanguinetti, spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections.

Also, budget officials estimate about 2,600 former inmates currently on parole will no longer need to be supervised. Those parolees must have completed at least six months of parole or 50 percent of their parole period and completed all of their goals.

Studies show that after that point, parolees usually don't need supervision, said Ritter's budget director, Todd Saliman.

Ari Zavaras, director of the Department of Corrections, and Pete Weir, director of the Department of Public Safety, on Friday briefed the Colorado Commission on Crime and Juvenile Justice of the prison and parole changes.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now lets see it actually happen.djw

Anonymous said...

One small step in the right direction if it actually happpens!!

ninjakitty said...

Yes!!! The Governor and DOC are starting to listen to the families! It's about time they stopped doing the same thing over and over when it doesn't work! This gives us all so much hope he doesn't even know it! Not to mention discharging their sentences makes them eligible to vote for him when he goes up for re-election. Yes yes yes!

Anonymous said...

I'll believe it when I see it!