Prisons Come Out On Top In State Budget

Governor Ritter's Recidivism Reduction Package was able to get most of the $8 million dollars he asked for.

Prisoner rehabilitation - The most significant change Ritter made to the budget submitted by his GOP predecessor was a jolt of funding for "recidivism reduction."

Ritter got most of his requested $8 million for drug-and-alcohol-treatment programs, mental-health treatment, probation and parole services. That money is supposed to decrease costs in the long run by reducing the number of returning inmates. The Department of Corrections predicts it would save about $3 million next year and more later.Denver Post