Allowing profit into the criminal justice system undermines its integrity, effectiveness, and the public trust. We would never tolerate profit incentives for judges, public defenders, or prosecutors; we should not do so for prisons. Two private, for-profit prisons in Colorado hold roughly 18% of our state’s prison population. These facilities are owned by CoreCivic, a […]
private prison
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Eliminate private prisons. Profit has no place in the criminal justice system.
Private companies are profiting off the imprisonment of almost four thousand Coloradans. Approximately 20% of our state prison population is held in private prisons. These facilities are owned by large, for-profit corporations. Allowing profit into the criminal justice system undermines the integrity, effectiveness, and perception of our justice system. We would never tolerate profit incentives […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, Politics and Government
As Democrats try to end private prisons in Colorado, critics warn of economic ruin for rural areas
The first steps in a push by Gov. Jared Polis and Democratic leaders to stop the use of private prisons in Colorado are generating criticism and concern about the potential economic impact in rural areas. The House will vote on a package of spending legislation this week that allows the state to reopen a shuttered […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Gov. Polis said he wanted to close a private prison. GEO Group beat him to it, leaving Colorado scrambling.
After months of saying it wanted to close a private prison in Colorado Springs, the Polis administration got the surprise news on Tuesday that GEO Group will be shuttering the facility on its own, leaving hundreds of inmates and employees in limbo. GEO announced it will close the Cheyenne Mountain Reentry Center in just 60 […]