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31C8EFDB9678643E87258353005B731B Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON JOINT JUDICIARY
Date Nov 28, 2018      
Location Old State Library



Department of Corrections - Committee Discussion Only


09:39:02 AM  

Kelli Wasko, Deputy Director, Deb Goheen, Interim Director of Budget and Finance, and Travis Trani, Director of Prisons, for the DOC, appeared before the committee in accordance with the SMART Act and Joint Rule 25.  The following documents were distributed to the committee: Joint Judiciary Committee SMART Act hearing Powerpoint presentation (Attachment F); the Regulatory Agenda Report, 2019 (Attachment G); and, the DOC Performance Plan, 2018-19 (Attachment H).

 

Ms. Wasko walked the committee through the Powerpoint presentation.  The presentation included the agency's vision and mission statement, as well as highlighted accomplishments such as the end of long-term solitary confinement, reduction in Hep C cases, issuance of IDs upon release, and improvements in parolee employment.  The presentation also covered recidivism and technical parole violations. Ms. Wasko reported that the prison population has remained relatively stable compared to the state population.

 

The committee discussed the prison population rate, the under-utilization of community corrections beds, and the placement of transgender inmates.  The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was also discussed, as well as forensic investigations for reported rapes.

 

Ms. Wasko continued with the presentation and discussed the various kinds of treatment offered in prison.  The committee asked questions about diagnosis and assessments, capacity, wait lists, and access to services. 

 

Mr. Trani discussed progress on implementing legislation regarding prison population management, community corrections transition placements, and DOC policies for transgender inmates. 

10:33:36 AM  

The committee asked further questions about access to support and treatment services, transition measures to reduce capacity, and community corrections beds.  Mr. Trani continued the presentation with other statutorily required updates.  Ms. Goheen discussed recidivism rates, including the definition and methodolgy used in calculating them.  Ms. Goheen focused on the DOC budget request and emphasized staff retention and overcrowding issues.

11:28:35 AM  

Discussion ensued about inmate and staff safety.  Committee members asked questions about the implementation of recommendations made in the audit about the canteen program and the use of the funds in the balance. Other questions arose about Colorado State Penitentiary II and sex offender programs.

 

There was no public testimony.






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