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.


Thursday, June 30, 2011

New Parole Board

Governor Hickenlooper
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 -- Gov. John Hickenlooper today announced appointments to the State Board of Parole.

The State Board of Parole holds hearings and considers applications for parole, and conducts all proceedings involving revocation of parole. These appointments are dependent upon Senate confirmation. The members appointed are:

  • Dr. Anthony Young of Colorado Springs, to serve as a citizen representative, with a term to expire July 1, 2014. Young received a B.A. from Milliken University and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Denver. Dr. Young’s extensive experience in criminal justice and mental health spans over 34 years in Colorado. He is a former member of the Colorado State Board of Parole (1991-1995) and served as Clinical Team Leader for the Community Reintegration Unit of the Institute for Forensic Psychiatry-Colorado Mental Health Institute-Pueblo.
     
  • Patricia Ann Waak of Erie, to serve as a citizen representative, with a term to expire July 1, 2013. Waak received a B.S. from St. Joseph’s College and a M.A. in psychology from Regis University. Waak is a psychotherapist with extensive experience in strategic planning, restructuring and rebuilding organizations, as well as training and management. She has served as a consultant for worldwide organizations, published extensively and is a registered nurse. Waak has served as the Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, the executive director of the High Plains Environmental Center, held positions at the National Audubon Society, Columbia University and at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
     
  • Edward P. Thomas of Denver, to serve as a citizen representative with a term to expire July 1, 2014. Thomas has extensive experience and a strong background in public safety, community outreach and economic development. Currently, Thomas is a private consultant to municipalities and businesses on safety and security issues, the editor in chief of the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle and vice president of business development for the Avrio Group. Previously, he was a Denver City Council Representative (1994-2003) and a Denver Police Officer. Thomas attended Metropolitan State College.
     
  • Denise K. Balazic of Aurora, to serve as a parole or probation representative, with a term to expire July 1, 2014. Balazic has extensive experience in developing and implementing competency-based criminal justice training for Probation & Parole. Since 2007, Balazic has been a correctional program specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, in Aurora. Previously, she was with the Missouri Department of Corrections and was a Probation & Parole Officer. Balazic received a B.S. from Southern Illinois University.
Effective July 1, 2011 for a term expiring at the pleasure of the Governor:
  • Dr. Anthony Young of Colorado Springs to serve as Chairperson of the State Board of Parole.
     
  • Patricia Ann Waak of Erie to serve as Vice Chairperson of the State Board of Parole.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I have seen the good and bad of the Parole Board. The lack of training and lack of good judgement is evident in their hearings. Several years ago David Michaud had to overturn a bad decision by an untrained member who sentenced a man to 39 months for snapping a dish towel. Another man had already served 4 years over a drug fight and done all the programs and classes, but he continues to be denied. Another man steals thousands of dollars with forged checks a second time, and is let out in 4 months.