Date: 01/20/2012
Final
State Board of Parole Briefing
COMMITTEE ON JOINT JUDICIARY
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03:23 PM -- State Board of Parole Briefing
Dr. Anthony Young, chair of the State Board of Parole, introduced himself to the committee and discussed his experience. Committee members received a handout from Dr. Young (Attachment E). Dr. Young discussed the mission of the board. He said that the board has received a technical assistance grant from the National Institute of Corrections.
03:28 PM
Dr. Young continued his presentation. He spoke about a project concerning public involvement and outreach. He discussed his review of the board's functions and operations. He said that there is much that has not changed since he used to serve on the board in the 1970s, particularly with regards to technology. Dr. Young continued to discuss changes made by the board, including the use of the Colorado Actuarial Risk Assessment Scale.
03:33 PM
Dr. Young described training provided to board members. He then moved on to a discussion concerning the presumption of parole for drug offenders pursuant to House Bill 11-1064. He said that the fiscal note projected that 9 offenders would be released, whereas in fact 91 offenders have been released. He explained the reasons that the actual statistics differed from the projections of the fiscal note. Dr. Young continued to describe the effects of House Bill 11-1064.
03:38 PM
Dr. Young moved on to a discussion of Senate Bill 11-241 and its provisions concerning a presumption in favor of parole for certain offenders who have a detainer with the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Bureau. He then provided statistics related to special needs parole.
03:40 PM
Representative DelGrosso asked for additional information concerning the presumption of parole for certain offenders. Dr. Young said that all offenders are not created equal, and that they are judged by the same standards. He said that there are 12 factors that the board must take into account when it makes a parole decision. Discussion continued between Representative DelGrosso and Dr. Young.
03:44 PM
Senator Carroll thanked Dr. Young and the rest of the State Board of Parole for its efforts regarding training and technological updates.
03:45 PM
Dr. Young described the financial and safety benefits of video conferences. He said that the board conducts an average of 1,500 hearings per month. He stated that the board members work very hard and are proud to do it.
03:46 PM
Representative Lee asked for additional statistics concerning the work of the board, such as the number of cases that come before the board, the backgrounds of the offenders, and the decisions that were made. Dr .Young said that some of that information is included in the Department of Corrections (DOC) annual statistical report, and other information is available through the board. In response to further questions, Dr. Young stated that the DOC's report is online, and the board is using its technical assistance grant to work on posting its information online. Dr. Young expressed his goals to make the board's process more transparent.
03:49 PM
Representative Gardner asked Representative Barker and Representative Kagan to serve as liaisons with the State Board of Parole.
03:50 PM
The committee adjourned.