SB 22-089

Senate Bill 22-089, which has been signed into law, splits the current single Sex Offender Management Board in Colorado into two separate boards: one for adult sex offenders and another for juvenile sex offenders. This bill also allows sex offenders access to a full list of treatment providers, gives prosecutors more flexibility regarding evaluations, and mandates that the Department of Corrections identify inmates who need but haven't received sex-offense treatment while incarcerated. The new law aims to improve oversight and management of sex offender treatment programs by creating joint review processes and requiring research on reoffense rates.

Official Summary

Under current law, there is a single sex offender management board that sets standards for sex offender treatment and approves sex offender treatment providers (treatment providers), among other things. The bill creates 2 boards, one for adult sex offenders and one for juvenile sex offenders. Under current law, a sex offender is given the choice of 2 treatment providers. The bill allows a sex offender access to the list of all treatment providers to choose from, with some restrictions. The bill gives prosecutors discretion to permit a sex offender evaluation to be dispensed with if it is only triggered by sexual offense history. The bill directs the department of corrections (department) to identify all inmates who are required to undergo sex-offense treatment, are eligible to receive sex-offense treatment, and have not been provided with the opportunity to undergo sex-offense treatment while incarcerated. The department shall provide this data to the adult sex offender management board prior to August 31, 2022. The division of parole in the department and the adult sex offender management board shall meet and develop solutions to address the needs of treatment for offenders incarcerated in the department. The adult sex offender management board shall present findings to the division of criminal justice in the department of public safety prior to January 1, 2023. The bill requires the boards to create a joint application review subcommittee to serve each board for the application and review process of treatment providers, evaluators, and polygraph examiners. The bill requires the boards to maintain a record of any denial or removal from the list of approved treatment providers or other sanctions due to a provider's criminal history. The bill requires the adult sex offender management board to conduct a reoffense research project to collect and analyze data related to rearrest and reconviction rates for sex offenders. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)