Colorado Prison Moratorium Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted)

For three state fiscal years commencing July 1, 2000, this bill prohibits the department of corrections from spending any money on the planning, design, or construction of a correctional facility or the expansion of an existing correctional facility unless the planning, design, construction, or expansion was approved by the capital development committee as of January 1, 2000.

Prohibits the department of corrections from issuing any new requests for proposals for the privatization of correctional facilities or the expansion of existing contracts with private prisons until July 1, 2003.

Establishes a task force to study criminal drug sentencing policies and the cost and effectiveness of sentencing alternatives for drug-related offenses in the state. Specifies the number, method and timing of appointment, and compensation of task force members. Establishes duties of the task force, including analyzing specific areas and submitting interim and final reports to joint meetings of the judiciary committees of the senate and the house of representatives.

Repeals the task force, effective July 1, 2003.

ENDORSERS:
9-5 Colorado(Denver),
Action for a Better Community (Denver),
American Friends Service Committee (Denver),
Amnesty International (Denver),
Black Professional Business Associates of Colorado (Denver),
Boulder Green Alliance, Boulder Unity Church, Brother Jeff's Cultural Center & Cafe (Denver),
Cell Door Magazine (Mancos),
Colorado Alliance for the Mentally Ill (statewide),
Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence (statewide),
Colorado Council of Churches (Denver), Colorado Criminal Defense Bar (statewide),
Colorado CURE (Denver),
Colorado New Jewish Agenda (Denver),
Colorado NOW (statewide),
Colorado Progressive Coalition (Denver),
Colorado Vincentian Volunteers (Denver),
Colorado Women's Agenda (Denver),
Cuba Information Project (Denver),
Denver Justice & Peace Committee (Denver),
End the Politics of Cruelty (Denver),
Epimethian Press (Colo. Spgs.),
Equality Colorado (Denver), Free Speech TV (Boulder),
Friends and Families of the Imprisoned (Aurora),
Good Shepherd Sisters of Denver,
Jewish Voices for Justice (Colo. Spgs.),
Justice Information Center-Immigration Project (Denver),
Law Center for Women Prisoners (Boulder),
Left Hand Book Collective (Boulder),
National Lawyer's Guild (statewide),
New Foundations Nonviolence Center (Denver),
Northern Colorado-CURE (Fort Collins),
Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission (Colo. Spgs.),
Prison Dharma Network (Boulder),
Rocky Mountain Mennonite Conference (Pueblo),
Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center (Boulder),
San Luis Valley Welfare Advocates (Alamosa),
San Luis Valley Christian Community Services (Alamosa),
Southern Chapter of Colorado-CURE (Manitou Spgs.),
St. Mary's Cathedral (Colo. Spgs.)
Vincentian Center for Spirituality & Work ( Denver),
Urban League of Denver,
Urban League of the Pikes Peak Region,
Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (Boulder),
Washington Park United Church of Christ (Denver),
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Boulder & Greeley),
Women United for Justice, Community & Family (Boulder),
Women's Empowerment Program (Denver),
Word is Out Women's Bookstore (Boulder),
and more...