S_JUD_2021A 01/25/2021 09:13:55 AM Committee Summary

Senator Lee gave opening remarks and provided an overview about the SMART Act. He recapped the agenda (Attachment A) and announced the first presenters from Office of the State Auditor.

Kerri Hunter, Audit Manager, gave a brief synopsis of the responsibilities and duties of the Office of the State Auditor. She referenced the Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2020 (Attachment B).

Vickie Heller, Deputy State Auditor, discussed the audit about the State Court Administrator's Office in the Judicial Department (Attachment C).  She answered questions from the committee about fraud and criminal allegations.  Further discussion ensued about the implementation of the audit recommendations. 

Ms.Heller next shared the audit recommendations for the Sex Offender Management Board in the Division of Criminal Justice, Department of Public Safety (Attachment D).  Committee members asked questions about conflicts of interest, standards, and supporting evidence. 

Ms. Heller lastly gave a status update of audit recommendations from previous years that have not been fully implemented (Attachment E). 

Lindy Frolich, Director, Alternate Defense Counsel (ADC), gave a brief overview of the ADC, including its history and charge.  She discussed the impacts of COVID and also provided information about caseload, expenditures, and cases by type.  Committee members asked questions about cost variance between judicial districts and moving people out of the criminal justice system.   

Stacie Nelson Colling, Juvenile Defense Coordinator,  discussed the duties of juvenile  ADC counsel and contract attorneys.  She also talked about trauma and the social work coordinator position.    

Committee members asked questions about best practices, contract attorneys, cost disparities, and training for juvenile defense attorneys.

Erin Campbell, Evaluation and Training Coordinator, discussed competency trainings, goals, and feedback.  She answered questions about the differences in competency trainings for adults and juveniles. 

Kimberly Simmons, Muncipal Court Coordinator, discussed conflict-free representation in municipal courts and the approved attorney list.  Discussion followed about social workers and access to municipal court cases.

The ADC SMART Act presentation is found in Attachment F. 

Chris Henderson, Executive Director, and Ashley Chase, Staff Attorney and Legislative Liaison, provided an overview of the Office of Child's Representative, including its mission, vision, and values.  Mr. Henderson proceeded to discuss guardians ad litem and laid out agency goals for the upcoming year.  He also reviewed the agency's budget request and the impact of COVID.  

Committee members asked questions about open cases and staff turnover.  Discussion followed about students and mental health concerns. 

Attachment G is the SMART Act presentation from the Office of the Child's Representative. 

Discussion followed about special needs parole. 

Attachment H is the SMART Act presentation from State Board of Parole. 

Dean Williams, Executive Director, presented an overview of the Department of Corrections (DOC), including its mission and vision, prison locations, and an organizational chart.

Deb Goheen, Director of Finance and Administration, reviewed the budget request. 

Committee members asked about the decrease in the prison population, jail backlogs, and the impact of COVID-19 in the short and long term. 

Matt Hansen, Deputy Director of Prisons, discussed intakes and vacancy rates.  

Merideth McGrath, Deputy Director of Parole Operations, presented about the parole population.

Director Williams covered the legislative agenda for 2021, including housing mentors in youthful offender facilities.  Travis Trani, Director of Prisons, next presented a legislative item regarding security classifications during a declared disaster emergency. 

Rick Thompkins, Chief Human Resource Officer, discussed staffing and training, and equity, diversion, and inclusion (EDI). 

Andre Stancil, Deputy Director of Prison Operations, further discussed EDI.

Director Williams discussed COVID-19 in the prisons, measures to reduce its spread, and the mortality rate.  Mr. Trani reported about prison health, generally.

Committee discussion followed about inmate movement, cohorting, and releases.  Questions were raised about vaccinations for both staff and inmates. 

Further discussion ensued about the difficulties of controlling COVID-19 in prisons. 

Annie Skinner, Public Information Officer, discussed ways in which DOC is sharing public information and inmate communication with loved ones. 

Committee members inquired about inmate programming, outside time, and other activities during COVID-19.  Discussion ensued about work force issues and staffing.  The conversation returned to vaccinations.  

Director Williams and Ms. Skinner presented the DOC's progress on their Wildly Important Goals that address recividism rates, reentry, prison normalization, medication assisted treatment participation, prison culture, and staff turnover. 

Ruth Coffman, Deputy Executive Director, presented information about the Take TWO transitional work opportunity that connects inmates to prevailing wage jobs. 

Committee members asked questions about prison normalization efforts during COVID-19, reentry programs and services, recidivism, and arts programs and opportunities.  

Terri Hurst, representing the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, discussed parole, prerelease planning, and special needs parole. 

Deputy Director Coffman discussed DOC prerelease planning and programming efforts.   

Christie Donner, representing the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, discussed prison population reductions, jail backlogs, prison operations during COVID-19, and vaccinations. 

The DOC SMART Act presentation is found in Attachment I.