SB 17-141

Senate Bill 17-141, which has been signed into law, aims to help low-risk sex offenders by allowing them to complete their required treatment in community-based programs rather than in prison when there isn't enough space for treatment inside the prison. This means that if a low-risk offender needs to finish their treatment before being released but the prison can’t provide it, they won’t be denied parole because of this. The bill also requires various departments and experts to set criteria for releasing these offenders based on evidence. This law affects low-risk sex offenders who need to complete their treatment programs and ensures that lack of space in prisons doesn't unfairly delay their release. Since the bill has been signed, it is now an active law in Colorado.

Official Summary

The bill requires the sex offender management board, in collaboration with the department of corrections, the judicial department, and the parole board, and in consultation with sex offender research experts, to establish evidence-based criteria for the release of low-risk offenders. The bill requires the department of corrections to allow a low-risk sex offender to complete his or her required treatment in a community-based program if the department does not have sufficient prison-based treatment for the offender. The bill prohibits the parole board from denying parole to a low-risk sex offender because the offender did not complete treatment if the offender is seeking release to complete treatment in a community-based program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

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