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.


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Panel hears testimony on mentally ill inmates - The Denver Post

Panel hears testimony on mentally ill inmates - The Denver Post

A Senate committee heard testimony Monday on a bill that would require mentally ill prisoners to undergo evaluation before placement in solitary confinement.

Senate Bill 176, sponsored by Sen. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, would create committees to evaluate prisoners before they are placed in solitary confinement.

Although the committee delayed a vote, emotional testimony from former convicts argued that solitary confinement, called "administrative segregation," only makes mentally troubled prisoners less likely to successfully return to society after their times are served.

Representatives of the Colorado Department of Corrections testified that prisoners can pose a serious risk to staff, making confinement necessary.

A future meeting of the committee will vote on the bill.


Read more: Panel hears testimony on mentally ill inmates - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_17614332#ixzz1GfgnXg5O
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