Residential community corrections programs are an alternative to prison and are intended to help reintegrate offenders into their communities. Programs provide a structured environment where offenders live, find employment, attend treatment, and reconnect with family and community. The offenders are allowed to leave the facility to participate in employment and treatment. Program staff provide supervision by conducting regular headcounts in the facilities, verifying offenders’ whereabouts when they leave the facilities, and performing periodic drug and alcohol tests. Offenders must also learn budgeting skills which include establishing a savings account and making payments toward restitution, child support, or other legal obligations. They are also required to contribute financially towards their placement with the current rate of subsistence set by the legislature at $17.00 per day.
Currently, 35 residential community corrections programs operate in the State. Of these programs, 19 (54 percent) are located in the Denver Metro area. Denver currently contracts for approximately 621 residential community corrections beds or 23% statewide total.
In general, offenders placed in residential programs are either diverted or transferred from the State’s prisons. Diversion offenders are placed in community corrections programs through a direct sentence from the court. Section 18-1.3-301, C.R.S., allows judges to directly sentence offenders to community corrections programs if no mandatory sentencing provision exists requiring the offender to be sentenced to the Department of Corrections. These offenders are under the jurisdiction of the Judicial Department. Transition offenders are those serving a prison sentence who are transferred from a secure prison setting to a residential facility prior to their release. These offenders are under the supervision of the Department of Corrections.
Nonresidential community corrections programs provide the lowest level of supervision in the community corrections system. Offenders live, work, and obtain treatment services in the community. Offenders typically transition from residential programs to nonresidential programs. Currently, 26 nonresidential programs operate in the State that serve diversion offenders. Transition offenders are placed in nonresidential programs overseen by the Department of Corrections