Coloradans from many different experiences and perspectives are joining together to end the era of mass incarceration, racial disparity and a failed drug war. Through a new vision and integrated campaigns, we're advancing smarter public health, safety, and funding strategies.
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Alcohol, Drug, Substance Abusers
Crime/Abuse Victims
Ethnic/Racial Minorities
Homeless
Offenders, Ex-Offenders
in 2015, CCJRC expanded its work to partner with crime survivors because many crime survivors want and deserve a comprehensive response that prioritizes healing, prevention, rehabilitation and recovery--not more prisons and jails. We organize and advocate for smarter public health and safety policies and new budget priorities that can prevent crime, better support survivors, and promote community healing.
Health Care
Alcohol, Drug, Substance Abusers
Ethnic/Racial Minorities
Homeless
Offenders, Ex-Offenders
Young Adults (20-25 years)
On any given day, over 100,000 adults are involved in the criminal justice system in Colorado and the majority are eligible for health insurances as a a result of healthcare reform. Better access to healthcare not only improves the quality of life for individuals, but it is also essential in the decades-long effort to end the war on drugs. Better healthcare access also offers new opportunities to pivot drug policy more appropriately into health and harm reduction strategies and dramatically less in criminal justice. www.takecarehealthmatters.org
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Adults
General population
Offenders, Ex-Offenders
working to make sure that people with criminal backgrounds understand that they may have the right to vote.
Registered over 700 people to vote in Denver jails. Governor Polis signed the Parolee Voting Act which gave people on parole the right to vote in Colorado.
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Ethnic/Racial Minorities -- General
General Public/Unspecified
Homeless
Poor/Economically Disadvantaged/Indigent
Offenders, Ex-Offenders
Advocates for more effective prisoner re-entry and parole laws in order to decrease the rate of recidivism in Colorado; publishes Getting On After Getting Out: A Re-entry Guide for Colorado
prison population has declined for the fifth year in a row; reduced recidivism; over 35 criminal justice reform bills passed in the last three years; and the closure of six prisons, including CMRC on March 1, 2020. We published the 5th edition of Getting On After Getting Out in 2019.
Crime & Legal
General Public
Offenders/Ex-offenders
Substance Abusers (Drug/Alcohol Abusers)
works to dramatically increase funding for substance abuse treatment and promotes alternatives to incarceration for people convicted of drug use or possession
decreased recidivism among drug offenders receiving community-based treatment v. incarceration; and increased employment among ex-drug offenders due to earlier conviction record sealing; over 22.5 million dollars reallocated from Department of Corrections budget to mental health and substance abuse treatment for people in the criminal justice system in the last four years; and substantial rewrite of Colorado Controlled Substances Act approved by the Colorado Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice was passed in 2013. In 2019 HB 1263 was passed and made possession of small amount of drugs a misdemeanor.
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Ethnic/Racial Minorities -- General
Families
General Public/Unspecified
Offenders/Ex-offenders
provides public education, research, coalition building, and serves as a resource for prisoners, parolees, and their families
criminal justice policy reform laws enacted due to educated citizenry and legislators; increased employment of ex-offenders; ever-increasing number of CCJRC coalition members; reduced recidivism with empowered ex-offenders leading productive lives
