US EditionColorado Lawmakers Reject Request for More Prison Funding Amid Overcrowding Frustrations
Democratic budget panel blocked $2.4 million for 788 prison beds, citing lack of a comprehensive population plan amid staffing and safety concerns from the state workers' union.
- On Wednesday, Democratic members of the legislature's Joint Budget Committee denied a $2.4 million request to fund 788 additional state prison beds in a 4-2 vote.
- Democrats said the Department of Corrections lacked a holistic plan despite repeated requests, and lawmakers aimed to pressure Governor Jared Polis to support legislation or present a workable plan.
- The DOC proposed short-term fixes such as temporary 'sled beds' and local jail use, while the JBC approved 153 private prison beds and funded 50% of requested jail and medical payments.
- Department of Corrections leaders will testify Thursday at the SMART Act hearing, and the Governor's Office may brief the JBC on Monday; Republican members warned about added strain on local jails.
- Lawmakers framed the votes as a broader rebuke, rejecting more than $20 million in requests as the Corrections Department's annual budget recently surpassed $1 billion, with Colorado WINS and Kyle Giddings urging denial.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Denver Post
Colorado lawmakers reject request for more prison funding amid overcrowding frustrations
Colorado lawmakers rejected a Department of Corrections request to increase prison operations funding Wednesday, amid frustration with the agency's management of chronic overcrowding.
Colorado Joint Budget Committee rejects DOC's $2.4M request for more beds
The state’s Joint Budget Committee voted on Wednesday to deny the Department of Corrections’ $2.4 million request for additional prison beds, citing the department’s lack of a plan to address its ongoing overcrowding problems. In September, the commi
State budget writers reject request to fund more prison beds in Colorado
Democratic members of the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee denied a request Wednesday from the Colorado Department of Corrections for money to pay for additional prison beds. In a 4-2 vote, the Democrats on the JBC voted in a bloc to deny the dollars, complaining that the DOC lacked a plan to address the state’s growing prison population, despite repeated requests for Gov. Jared Polis’ administration to do so. The two Republicans on the pan…
Colorado Newsline
kiowacountypress.netColorado prisons denied funds for 900 additional beds
A view of the visitors parking lot of the Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center, a state prison within the Colorado Department of Corrections. (Photo by Moe Clark/Colorado Newsline)A request by Colorado prisons to expand capacity by 900 beds was denied Wednesday by state lawmakers. The Colorado Department of Corrections’ male inmate population is “much higher” than the current budget anticipated, according to a memo from nonpartisan legislative…
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