6A36CA6CCE60824D8725850A00746B26 Hearing Summary

Senators Zenzinger and Gardner, co-prime sponsors, explained Senate Bill 20-085, concerning a requirement that a sex offender being placed in a community corrections program meet certain requirements for a sex offender being released on parole.  Senator Zenzinger disbributed a handout about parole and community corrections eligibility requirements (Attachment D), and another one that compares indeterminate and determinate sex crimes (Attachment E).  She explained that individuals with indeterminate sentences for sex offenses are not required to participate in treatment before transfer to community corrections, unlike parole.  She stressed that the bill equalizes parole and community corrections requirements in this regard.  She distributed a copy of the Sex Offender Management Board Standards and Guidelines (Attachment F). 

Senator Gardner discussed accountability and sex offender treatment.  

Committee members asked questions about current practices and the number of sex offenders with indeterminate sentences who have been released to community corrections.   

Senator Zenzinger distrubuted a copy of the Standards and Guidelines prepared by the Sex Offender Management Board (Attachment F).  Senator Zenzinger distrubuted and explained Amendments L. 001 and L. 002 (Attachments G and H). 

Amanda Gall, representing the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill. She provided related statistics and stated benefits of aligning parole and community corrections requirements for certain individuals imprisoned for sexual offenses.   

Maggie Conboy, representing the Denver District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. 

Amelia Sapp, representing the District Attorney's Office in Jefferson County, spoke in favor of the measure.  She discussed accountability and victims. 

Committee discussion followed about the numbers of sex offenders with indeterminate sentences who have transitioned to community corrections. 

Sterling Harris, representing Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed practices in other states and accountability.