S_JUD_2023A 01/25/2023 12:37:52 PM Committee Summary

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Senator Gonzales, Chair, provided an overview of the day's agenda. Andre Stancil, Interim Executive Director, Ashley Clark, Director of Finance and Administration; Rich Thompkins, Chief Human Resources Officer; Christina Ortiz-Marquez, Equity, Diversion and Inclusion Coordinator; all of the Department of Corrections (DOC), appeared before the committee pursuant to the SMART Government Act and Joint Rule 25. Mr. Stancil provided some opening remarks. Mr. Thompkins discussed position openings in the department and the department's efforts to recruit and retain employees.

Mr. Thompkins continued to discuss DOC's hiring and retention efforts. Mr. Thompkins responded to questions regarding the efficacy of certain DOC hiring events, and the focus of the department's hiring efforts. Discussion ensued regarding the impact of an aging prison population on departmental hiring needs, and the impact of low staffing levels on safety for existing employees. Mr. Thompkins responded to questions regarding historic vacancy rates for corrections officers.

Ms. Clark provided an overview of the DOC FY 2023-24 budget request. Mr. Stancil discussed the department's legislative agenda for the current session. Ms. Clark responded to questions regarding the impact of inflation on the department's budget. Meredith McGrath, Director for the Division of Adult Parole, discussed funding for housing for offenders transitioning out of the criminal justice system. Mr. Stancil responded to questions regarding work programs in the DOC, and costs for therapeutic programming. Discussion centered on the department's Take TWO program.

Ms. Ortiz_Marquez discussed DOC's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Ms. Clark discussed the use of federal stimulus funding by the department. Ms. Clark responded to questions regarding the use of federal stimulus funds, and the impact of prison population trends on health care needs. Leonard Woodson responded to questions regarding the DOC population impacted by certain health issues. Discussion ensued regarding to costs associated with medically assisted treatment. Discussion returned to the department's recruiting and retention issues and efforts, and corrections officer safety.

The committee recessed.

The committee returned to order. Chris Lobanov-Rostovsky, Program Manager; Kim Kline, Chair; Raechel Alderete, Program Coordinator; and Dr. Rachael Collie, Staff Researcher; all of the Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB), appeared before the committee pursuant to Section 16-11.7-109, Colorado Revised Statutes. Committee members received copies of the board's annual legislative report (Attachment _). Mr. Lobanov-Rostovsky provided opening remarks. Ms. Kline provided an overview of the board and its powers and duties. She also discussed recent trends with the SOMB. Ms. Alderete discussed policy issues and recommendations in the SOMB annual report. Dr. Collie discussed research and evidence-based practices. Dr. Collie responded to questions regarding disparate treatment among sex offender programming and therapies. Discussion ensued regarding the sunset process for the SOMB, and how adult sex offender treatment guidelines interface with the DOC.

Jessica Dotter, representing the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified about the SOMB.

Laurie Rose Kepros, representing the Office of the State Public Defender and the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, testified on the SOMB. Committee members received a packet of information (Attachment _). Ms. Kepros responded to questions regarding a lawsuit pertaining to a law that concerns lifetime supervision for sex offenders.

Jordan Rhodes, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified on the SOMB.

Taber Powers, representing himself, testified on the SOMB.

Dr. Carl Blake, representing the SOMB, testified on the board.

Jesse Hansen, Program Coordinator; Dr. Rachael Collie, Staff Researcher; and Jessica Fann, board member; all of the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board (DVOMB), appeared before the committee pursuant to Section 16-11.8-103, Colorado Revised Statutes. Committee members received the DVOMB annual legislative report (Attachment _). Mr. Hansen provided an overview of the board and its duties.

Dr. Collie discussed evidence-based practices and research in the area of domestic violence.

Ms. Fann discussed relevant policy issues and recommendations.

Mr. Hansen responded to questions regarding DVOMB jurisdiction over local government sex offense cases, and data collection on teen dating violence.

The committee recessed.

The committee returned to order. Elizabeth Ramey, Principal Economist for Legislative Council Staff, presented the office's prison population forecast. Ms. Ramey explained what constitutes the prison population, and discussed trends in the population in recent years. Ms. Ramey discussed the factors driving an increase in the state's prison population, and the outlook for the population going forward. Ms. Ramey next discussed parole, and what the expected population will be in the next two years.

Ms. Ramey responded to questions regarding the impact of the average length of stay in prison on the overall prison population, and how an aging prison population may impact cost and overall incarceration numbers. Ms. Ramey responded to questions regarding the potential impact of recently approved legislation on the prison population going forward, and the methods for incorporating legislation into the prison population forecast. Ms. Ramey next discussed the forecast for the state's parole population.

Ms. Ramey briefed the committee on the youth corrections population forecast. Ms. Ramey responded to data on low-level youth offenses, broken down by jurisdiction.

The committee recessed.

The committee returned to order. Elisa Overall, Executive Director, Access to Justice Commission, provided an update to the committee on its activities. Ms. Overall was joined by Richard Murray, Chair of the commission. Ms. Overall provided an overview of the commission, duties, and issues facing it. Ms. Overall discussed the most common barriers to civil justice access, and provided recommendations on how to address the issue. Ms. Overall responded to questions regarding willingness of the Judicial Branch to adopt recommendations made by the Access to Justice Commission, and the number of civil court cases compared to criminal cases in Colorado. Ms. Overall responded to further questions regarding the use of para-professionals in civil court

Lindy Frolich, Director, and Stacie Nelson Colling, Youth Defense Coordinator, Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel (ADC), appeared before the committee pursuant to the SMART Government Act and Joint Rule 25. Committee members received... Ms. Frolich discussed the role of ADC, and the office's budget. She discussed the office's efforts in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Ms. Nelson Colling reported to the committee pursuant to House Bill 14-1032, which pertains to juvenile defense.