Accomplishments

CCRJC has emerged as a vital leader in pro-actively developing a vision for specific criminal justice policy reform in Colorado and building the necessary grassroots political power to see these visions become reality.

Since our founding, CCJRC has:

• Partnered with allies to oppose prison/jail expansions in Canon City, Pueblo, Lamar, Denver, Ft. Collins and Ault. The prison/jail projects were defeated in Pueblo, Lamar, Ft. Collins and Ault.

• Built a diverse, statewide coalition of over 100 endorsing organizations and faith communities.

• Passed three criminal justice reform bills at the state legislature on drug policy and parole reform. We have also unsuccessfully supported legislation that would have banned the importation of prisoners from out of state into private prisons in Colorado. At the legislature, CCJRC also opposed (unsuccessfully) the deregulation of the inmate phone system, the conversion of a VA medical center to a state prison and the use of Certificates of Participation to fund prison construction.

• Developed a credible reputation among bi-partisan legislators and have conducted numerous briefings at the legislature on the need for sentencing and parole reform and the problems with private prisons.

• Conducted over 275 community presentations and presented at numerous judicial, child welfare and drug policy conferences at the state and national level.

• Researched and developed comprehensive policy publications and fact sheets that are widely distributed to elected officials, the media and the public.

• Co-authored and distributed over 16,000 copies of a 90 page resource guide entitled, Parenting from Prison.

• Developed and distributed over 20,000 copies of a 200 page reentry guide entitled, Getting On After Getting Out.

• Partnered with the Colorado Voting Project to launch the first voter education campaign on the voting rights of people with a criminal conviction.

• Worked with community groups and city officials on the development of the first Community Re-entry Project in Denver to provide reintegration support to people leaving the Denver County Jail.

• Developed a training program for members on understanding the criminal justice system, understanding the legislative process, and public speaking.

For a detailed list of our most recent accomplishments, see

2006 Accomplishments (22k PDF)