DENVER—Corrections officials are asking Colorado lawmakers for $8 million for parole operation changes designed to reduce caseloads and help officers better prepare inmates for release.
The Colorado Department of Corrections was scheduled to discuss the funding request Monday with the Joint Budget Committee. The Denver Post reports ( ) the proposal would require the hiring of 74 new parole officers.
DOC’s plan also includes enhancing pre-release programs and creating a new command post to monitor the electronic bracelets that some parolees wear. Corrections officials also want to establish an office within the department to get inmates normal government identification cards when they’re released to help them better integrate into society.
The proposed changes come in the aftermath of the March slaying of former DOC Executive Director Tom Clements. Authorities believe Clements was killed by a parolee who took off his monitoring bracelet. Parole officers didn’t immediately find out he had tampered with his device.
DOC spokesman Roger Hudson declined to discuss the proposals with the newspaper.
“It wouldn’t be appropriate to answer questions from The Denver Post concerning budget requests before the department speaks to Colorado lawmakers,” he said.
The budget committee would have to give initial approval to DOC’s request before the full Colorado Legislature votes on an entire budget package for the state this spring.
“Obviously, we need a corrections system that will safeguard the public’s trust, and that will be the goal for me, but I will have to go through the details first,” said Democratic Rep. Crisanta Duran, the panel’s chair.
In his budget proposal to lawmakers, Gov. John Hickenlooper suggested setting aside $10 million to boost funding for parole operations—$2 million more than what DOC is asking for.
A $10 million increase would bring parole funding to a total of $49.4 million.
———
Information from: The Denver Post,
