HB 25-1214

House Bill 25-1214, titled "Appropriate Use of Prison Beds," aims to improve how Colorado sentences individuals for lower-level felonies and manages parole. The bill requires courts to review specific information before sentencing people to prison for class 5 or 6 felonies and mandates the Department of Corrections to inform courts when a prisoner is nearing their parole eligibility date. It also allows certified recovery residences as treatment options for parolees, removes financial barriers for drug and alcohol treatment programs, and streamlines the parole process for low-risk inmates by creating a presumption in favor of granting parole. Since the bill has been signed into law, these changes are now in effect and will impact how Colorado manages its prison population and parole system.

Official Summary

Before an individual is sentenced to the department of corrections (department) for a class 5 or 6 felony, the bill requires the court to review certain available information and to make additional findings. The bill directs the executive director of the department (executive director) to notify the sentencing court that a person sentenced to prison for certain lower-class felonies is either past or within 90 days or less of the person's parole eligibility date. The bill adds certified recovery residences to the lists of possible treatment or recovery options for a parolee. The bill eliminates the requirement that a parolee who tests positive for drugs or alcohol must pay for any treatment program ordered as a new condition of parole. The bill repeals provisions that require approval by a majority of the members of the state board of parole (state board) for a denial of parole to certain low- or very low-risk inmates. The bill replaces these provisions by creating a presumption that certain low- or very low-risk inmates who have reached their parole eligibility dates will be granted parole. The bill also requires the state board to provide a monthly report to the department on the status of hearings for these low- and very low-risk inmates. If an offender is otherwise eligible for parole or placement in a community corrections program but has an outstanding warrant or detainer, the parole board or the executive director shall notify the public defender liaison, who shall determine if the warrant or detainer may be resolved and notify the executive director of the outcome. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

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