Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes advanced release of certain prisoners when overcrowding occurs in prisons in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Corrections to track the prison bed vacancy rate in correctional facilities and state-funded private contract prisons on a monthly basis (Sec. 2).

• Requires notification of various officials if the prison bed vacancy rate falls below 4% for 30 consecutive days (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that if the prison bed vacancy rate is 5% or higher for 30 consecutive days then the same officials shall be notified that mandates required by this Act are no longer in effect (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department of Corrections to do the following if the prison bed vacancy rate falls below 4% for 30 consecutive days (Sec. 2):

• Request the office of community corrections to provide information regarding the location of any community corrections beds;

• Request that each community corrections provider provide a list of intensive supervision program-eligible inmates with employment and housing options;

• Investigate and approve a residence plan for each transition inmate on the list;

• Request that the office of community corrections investigate expanding the capacity for inmate transition beds in community corrections programs;

• Require that department case managers review the eligibility of each inmate for community corrections program placement, and issue referrals;

• Require that the division of adult parole notify each community parole officer of the prison bed shortage and request that parole officers consider alternative sanctions for parole violations by transition inmates;

• Create a list of inmates who have satisfied the conditions for conditional release within 14 days, and submit the list to the parole board;

• Grant certain inmates who are within 120 days of their mandatory release date an additional 60 days of earned time;

• Finalize an inmate’s release within seven days of finding the inmate was granted conditional release by the parole board; and

• Expedite reviews of parole eligibility.

• Requires the executive director to develop a comprehensive and ongoing prison population management plan (Sec. 3).

• Requires the chairperson of the state board of parole to ensure that the board complies with all prison population management mandates (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text