S_JUD_2024A 01/22/2024 01:39:49 PM Committee Summary

Senator Gonzales and Majority Leader Rodriguez, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-027, concerning a study to examine how individuals proceed the various justice systems. 

Majority Leader Rodriguez provided an overview of the Recidivism Interim Study Committee, which was formed to align definitions of recidivism when used as a measurement of criminal justice related program success or failure.  He recapped the bills recommended by the interim committee, including Senate Bill 24-027. 

Senator Gonzales discussed the importance of data informed decisions and tracking how individuals proceed through the various stages of the criminal justice process. 

The bill sponsors made closing remarks.

Senator Gonzales and Majority Leader Rodriguez presented Senate Bill 24-029, concerning a study of how to measure the effectiveness of the criminal justice system using metrics other than recidivism. 

Senator Gonzales discussed the limits of recidivism rates to measure success or failure in the criminal justice system.  She explained that recidivism rates do not take into account other, more nuanced, indicators of progress, such as housing and employment. 

Christie Donner, representing Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, testified in support of the bill.  She noted other indicators besides recidivism are starting to be taken into considering when measuring success.  

Committee members asked questions about other states using alternative metrics to measure success.

Senator Gonzales distributed and explained Amendment L.001 to add additional members to the study group (Attachment A).

Senator Gonzales made closing comments.

Majority Leader Rodriguez and Senator Gonzales presented Senate Bill 24-030, concerning creating a working group to develop a definition of recidivism.  They discussed the findings from the Recidivism Interim Committee and discussed the different recidivism definitions used across agencies. 

Maureen Cain, representing the Office of the State Public Defender, testified in support of the bill. She explained the working group will look at elements of a recidivism event, including start and end times and what to count.

The bill sponsors made closing comments.