I_PrisPop_2019A 08/12/2019 09:32:47 AM Committee Summary

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Stan Hilkey, Executive Director, Department of Public Safety; Dean Williams, Executive Director, Department of Corrections (DOC); Troy Riggs, Executive Director, Denver Department of Public Safety; Eric Williams, Deputy Director, Denver Department of Public Safety; Michael Sapp, Government and Community Affairs Director, Denver Department of Public Safety; Elias Diggins, Division Chief, Denver Sheriff Department; and Hassan Latif, Executive Director of the Second Chance Center, led a discussion about the recent vote by the Denver City Council to not renew community corrections contracts with private providers. Mr. Hilkey discussed the implications of not placing offenders with private providers. Mr. D. Williams followed up on the number of offenders affected by the decision, and potential implications for the DOC. Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Hilkey responded to questions regarding the number of vacant beds currently in the DOC and community corrections systems, and various capacity issues. Mr. Riggs discussed actions undertaken by his agency in response to the Denver City Council vote, and plans for the future.

Mr. Riggs responded to questions regarding the current agreement between Denver and private community corrections providers. Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Hilkey responded to questions regarding discussions between their departments and the Denver City Council on the decision to not continue Denver's relationship with private community corrections providers. Discussion ensued on this point. Discussion returned to the current relationship between Denver and private community corrections providers, and the implications of the City Council decision.  Mr. D. Williams responded to questions regarding potential placement of the subject offenders in the DOC.  Discussion ensued regarding placement of these offenders.

Discussion continued regarding the offender population affected by the Denver City Council decision, and options for placing these offenders. Director Tapia discussed the implications of the decision for the probation system. Discussion ensued regarding the "ripple effect" of the Denver decision on various corrections-related systems. Mr. Latif discussed the implications of the Denver City Council decision from a community reentry perspective. Discussion followed regarding what happens if negotiations between Denver and private community corrections providers do not result in a resolution.

Discussion ensued regarding further ramifications of the Denver City Council decision, such as liability. Discussion returned to the implications of the decision, and options for placing those currently in the private community corrections programs. Discussion followed regarding options for transitioning away from the use of private community corrections providers.

Terri Hurst, Policy Coordinator, Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition; Leonard Woodson III, Clinical Services Assistant Director, DOC, Jenna Quigley, Court Services Division, Office of the State Court Administrator; and Michelle Wert, Division of Probation Services, Office of the State Court Administrator, conducted a panel on issues related to mental health and addiction treatment, and the impact of these on the prison population. Ms. Hurst discussed the use of resources for justice-involved people with mental health and substance abuse issues. Committee members received a fact sheet on criminal justice treatment (Attachment A), and a brochure on health matters (Attachment B). Ms. Wert and Ms. Quigley discussed treatment in probation, problem solving courts, and diversion. Committee members received a packet of slides forming the basis of this presentation (Attachment C).

Mr. Woodson discussed the substance abuse disorder treatment programs offered in the DOC. Mr. Woodson responded to questions regarding the waiting list for those seeking certain treatment in DOC, and the department's intake assessments. Discussion ensued regarding treatment providers' acceptance of Medicaid, and treatment access in general.

Discussion ensued regarding the relationship between length of stay in the DOC and eligibility for treatment.

Elise Logemann, Juvenile Justice Policy Counsel for the ACLU of Colorado, and Bryce Allen, Deputy District Attorney with the First Judicial District, initiated a discussion about direct filings and juveniles in the criminal justice system. Ms. Logemann discussed the population in the juvenile justice system, and provided an overview of this system. Mr. Allen explained the difference between the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Ms. Logemann responded to questions regarding the age of those in the juvenile justice system. Discussion ensued on this point.

Discussion continued regarding the age of those in the juvenile justice system, and direct file statistics. Discussion ensued regarding problems within the Division of Youth Services.

Discussion continued regarding issues in the Division of Youth Services and within the juvenile justice system.

Ms. Logemann and Mr. Allen discussed some potential legislation. The committee recessed.

The committee returned to order. Laurie Rose Kepros, Director of Sexual Litigation, Office of the State Public Defender; Amanda Gall, Sexual Assault Resource Prosecutor, Colorado District Attorneys' Council; Chris Lobanov-Rostovski, Director, Sex Offender Management Board; Angel Weant, Member, Sex Offender Management Board; and Leonard Woodson III, Member, Sex Offender Management Board, discussed issues related to sex offenders and the prison system. Ms. Kepros discussed the sex offender population currently in prison. Committee members received a fact sheet created by the Office of the State Public Defender (Attachment D), a fact sheet created by Louisiana-CURE (Attachment E), and a packet of information from Advocates for Change (Attachment F). Ms. Kepros discussed the potential for the state to be civilly liable due to the lack of sex offender treatment in state facilities.

Ms. Kepros continued to brief the committee on the state's process for addressing sexual offenses, outcomes for sexual offenders, and recidivism. She also discussed the utility of treatment for this population.

Ms. Gall discussed the nature of sex offenses, the rate of sex offenses, and management of the sex offender population. Ms. Gall cited statistics associated with sex offenders

Mr. Lobanov-Rostovsky discussed the process of rehabilitating sex offenders, and risk assessment. He responded to questions regarding recidivism. Discussion ensued on this point.

Ms. Weant discussed probation case management with respect to sex offenders. Mr. Woodson addressed some issues raised during earlier discussion, and discussed risk assessment for sex offenders. Discussion ensued regarding the existence of lifetime supervision for sex offenders in other states, and the potential effect of removing this requirement in Colorado.

Discussion ensued regarding conflict of interest policies for the Sex Offender Management Board, and polygraph testing for juveniles. Discussion followed regarding the potential for delivering sex offender treatment on demand.

Helen Morgan, Assistant District Attorney, Second Judicial District; Mr. Travis Trani, Director of Prisons for DOC; Christie Donner, Executive Director, Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition; and Mr. David Johnson, DOC, discussed issues associated with women in Colorado's criminal justice system. Committee members received an overview of the state's female prison population (Attachment G), and a fact sheet on this population (Attachment H). Ms. Morgan discussed some factors that are unique to women offenders. Ms. Donner discussed additional factors associated with female offenders, and incarceration trends for women.

Mr. Trani provided an overview of the female offender population under the supervision of the DOC and other agencies, relying on Attachment G for his presentation. Mr. Trani responded to questions regarding growth in the female offender population from El Paso County. He discussed programming for women in the DOC. Mr. Johnson continued the DOC presentation. Discussion ensued regarding trends in the female offender population in Colorado, and programming needs, such as behavioral health programming, for women.

Mr. Trani responded to questions regarding a sharp increase in offenders assigned to La Vista Correctional Facility, and services provided to women with families by DOC. Discussion ensued regarding the types of issues that result in women being assigned to the DOC.  Discussion returned to programming and facilities needs for justice-involved women, and early intervention to prevent future justice involvement.

Discussion continued regarding the best use of resources to address women offenders.

The committee discussed travel, and prison population-related working groups. The following persons testified regarding the committee and the day's proceedings:

Ms. Whitney Leeds, representing Above Waters Project, discussed community corrections. Committee members received a proposal to create an interim committee (Attachment I).

Ms. Susan Walker, representing the Coalition for Sexual Offense Restoration, testified regarding the lifetime supervision program and the use of polygraph.

Mr. Eric Olsen, representing Colorado WINS, testified regarding the decision of the Denver City Council to not renew contracts with private community corrections providers, and issues facing those who work for DOC.