B9D09A18E858ABE28725866800741A4C Hearing Summary

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.