Division of Community Corrections

            Community Corrections is an alternative to incarceration in prison, and it:

• provides services for individuals convicted of less severe offenses who are diverted from prison. 
• provides services for individuals in transition between prison and parole 
• provides services for parolees released by the Colorado Parole Board.
• provides for the productive reintegration of offenders back into society

      The Department of Corrections referrals (transition) are referred to the community corrections board and programs where the inmate is declaring their parole destination. 

      Diversion offenders, those sentenced directly by the court,  are referred for placement  by the Denver District Court .

      There are 12 residential facilities located throughout the City and County of Denver operated by the public and private sector.  These facilities provide services to male and female offenders including special populations such as the mentally ill and those with severe drug and alcohol addictions. 

No, and legislation enacted in 2000 has strengthened the interstate compact agreement which oversees parolees and probationers convicted in other states who now reside in Colorado.

Community corrections is a state funded program, all funding and contracts are with either the Colorado Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Justice or the Colorado Department of Corrections.  Denver does not contract with other counties for services.

The only program that routinely accepts “out of county” referrals is the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center- Peer I Program.  This program is located on the grounds of Ft. Logan and due to the specialized drug and alcohol treatment available, Denver has allowed other counties to utilize approximately 30 beds which are contracted by Jefferson, Arapahoe, and Adams Counties.  As with all proposed placements, they must be approved for placement by the Denver Community Corrections Board

What is the number of current inter-county agreements with Denver that allow inmates from another county to be housed in Denver?

All referrals received from the Colorado Department of Corrections (transition) have listed Denver County as their parole destination. This is not to say that these individuals were all convicted from Denver County, but it does reflect that all have listed Denver as their parole destination.

Although the law allows for diversion placements to be sentenced from other judicial districts, it is extremely rare that diversion placements in Denver are sentenced anywhere except from the Denver District Court. The exception to this is there is an agreement to allow other metro counties to refer a diversion client to the specialized drug and alcohol treatment center operated by the University of Colorado (Peer I / The Haven).

In Denver there are 628 clients in residential beds, approximately 200 are what we refer to as diversion offenders.  These are offenders sentenced directly by the Denver District Court as an alternative to a prison bed.  These offenders typically are not eligible for probation sentences and community corrections is seen as a viable alternative to a prison sentence.

Yes, there are over 100 standards setting the minimum requirements in areas such as administration, personnel, security, and case management.  The standards were  promulgated by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Community Corrections in conjunction with the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice. In addition to the standards,  the community corrections board has the authority to require additional services and facilities must adhere to any local ordinances. 

A community correctional facility is not meant to be a “locked” setting and  one of the primary goals is to reintegrate and transition offenders into the community, however, there are several measures in place that ensure public safety.  Residents are only allowed to leave the facility for employment, treatment, or staff approved passes.  Resident whereabouts are monitored 24 X 7 both in and out of the facility.  Facility staff regularly search residents and the facility for contraband and many have increased their security measures through the use of available technology such as security cameras.

Also, less than 2% of residents in community corrections are terminated from the program for the commission of a new crime. 

There is nothing that precludes a violent offender from being placed in community corrections, but as with all referrals the case must be approved by the local community corrections board and a program.  According the 2003 Division of Criminal Justice Annual Report, community corrections clients:

            - 88%  have no history of violent adult felony convictions

            - Twenty-nine percent (29%) of all community corrections clients had no prior adult felony convictions.

            - Most common types of offenses include; drug related, theft, burglary

      Approximately 60% of offenders successfully complete residential community corrections.

A study completed by the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice in 2002 showed that of those who successfully completed the program 69% remained crime –free after a two year period.

This is difficult to assign a quantitative number to as there are many factors that contribute to funding for community corrections. It is, however, the belief of Denver Community Corrections that funding for residential community corrections will continue to increase over the next decade for a number of reasons including:

a.       Historical use of residential community corrections- The state and Denver have seen community corrections funding increase steadily over the past decade.  Even during difficult budget times in state fiscal year 04-05, 144 transition beds were added statewide (Denver received 50).

b.      Prison Population Projections- The need for residential community corrections beds is linked to the state prison population which has increased steadily and will continue to do so as projected by the state.

c.       Support from the state to expand residential community corrections- As mentioned earlier, even in difficult budget cycles, the state recognizes the importance of community corrections both in the short term and long term.

Based on these reasons, Denver Community Corrections believes that funding will be available for the expansion of residential beds.