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, February 10, 2010

Details emerge on drunken driving suspect released from prison 60 years early - The Denver Post

Details emerge on drunken driving suspect released from prison 60 years early - The Denver Post

Details finally emerged Tuesday on how a drunken driving suspect shot in Castle Rock after allegedly running over a deputy was released from prison 60 years earlier than his original sentence called for.

Reese Slade, 43, was sentenced to 64 years in prison in 2002 on charges including possession of machine guns, and dealing methamphetamines and cocaine, but was released in 2006 after an appellate judge agreed that he should have been allowed to fire his attorney and sent the case back to district court for reconsideration.

After the case was remanded back to Elbert County District Court, a prosecutor entered a 12-year prison deal with Slade, giving him credit for four years he already served and suspending the remaining eight years if he completed a drug program.

Casimir Spencer, spokeswoman for District Attorney Carol Chambers, said Tuesday that Chambers declined to comment beyond a statement that indicated responsibility for Slade's plea deal belonged to her deputies.

"He agreed with the Court of Appeals decision and extended an offer to Mr. Slade," the statement says. "The deputy DAs who worked on this case are no longer with the office, so we can only provide what is in the Court of Appeals opinion and the file notes." She did not identify the deputies.

Slade had argued that when he arrived at court for trial in October 2002, his attorney had told him he would get a 12-year sentence in part for his participation in sting operations. But the prosecutor declined the offer on the first day of trial and Slade was tried, convicted and sentenced to prison.

Slade appealed, claiming he cooperated with drug investigations for a year and "laid his life on the line."

"During that period he had admitted his own involvement in the drug-trafficking trade, had informed police concerning drug activities of others known to him," a court document says.

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