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, April 12, 2010

Legislation of cost-saving strategies likely to draw fire from Colorado lawmakers - The Denver Post

Legislation of cost-saving strategies likely to draw fire from Colorado lawmakers - The Denver Post

A bipartisan pair of term-limited lawmakers are trying to leave behind a cost-saving strategy to spare future legislatures some of the budget pain they've experienced.

But the ideas — which could affect road funding along the Front Range and colleges and prisons across the state — are likely to draw fire from lawmakers trying to protect their districts and from local communities caught in the crossfire.

House Majority Leader Paul Weiss mann, D-Louisville, and Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, are crafting the plan.

May said the ideas might not get off the ground this year but could be conversation starters.

Items being discussed include:

• Turning state-maintained roads that are essentially local thoroughfares over to the communities.

• Determining the best use for the state's correctional facilities and whether some should close.

• Asking communities to help financially support the colleges in their towns.

• Trying to eliminate duplication in college programs across the state and possibly consolidating some governing boards.

The idea to turn state roads over to cities and towns came from Rep. Glenn Vaad, R-Mead, who worked for the Colorado Department of Transportation.

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