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Recovery in the News
Prison funds turned to treatment
Gov. Bill Ritter submits an amended budget plan calling for an $8 million increase in rehabilitation programs and a cut in spending on prison beds.
Mark P. Couch
Denver Post
February 14, 2007
Gov. Bill Ritter is emphasizing treatment programs over prison beds - a give-'em-another- chance philosophy that differs from the previous administration's lock-'em-up stance.
An amended budget plan submitted by Ritter last week calls for an $8 million increase in spending next year with the aim of decreasing future prison construction and operating costs by $14.2 million or more.
To cover some of the costs of the programs, Ritter would reduce prison-bed spending by $3.2 million in the 2007-08 budget. Owens' budget called for $12.9 million to cover the costs of additional prison beds.
"I think this is a good first step," said Ari Zavaras, executive director of the Department of Corrections.
Under the Ritter plan, the state would spend more on drug- and alcohol-treatment centers, provide 60 more beds for mental-health patients and add 75 beds to residential centers to keep offenders out of prison.
The total program is a stark contrast from the stern warnings issued by Owens in November.
"The cost of not incarcerating is very directly felt by the citizens," he said, noting the costs to crime victims, insurance companies, county jail systems and local district attorneys' offices.
In his budget, Owens highlighted increased funding for more prison beds and the hiring of corrections and parole officers.
Zavaras said the programs getting funding in the Ritter plan are intended to reduce crime rates and save money by reducing the number of repeat offenders.
"Our main mission is public safety, and we're not going to do anything to jeopardize that," he said.
Ritter's experience as Denver's district attorney shapes his approach, but budget realities are a driving force of the plan.
On the campaign trail, Ritter described his commitment to reducing the state's prison costs as a "moral obligation."
The cost of building and running prisons is squeezing the state budget and taking money awayfrom schools, he said.
Twenty years ago, the state spent $63 million from the general fund budget to run prisons. In 2006-07, the cost was $585 million from the general fund.
Advocates for criminal-justice reform said they were encouraged by Ritter's shift in priorities but want him to do more.
Christie Donner, executive director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, which represents 104 organizations and faith-based groups, said they want the state to put even more money into programs because putting sick people behind bars doesn't solve the problems.
"Incarceration doesn't cure mental illness," she said. "Incarceration doesn't cure substance abuse."
Ritter proposed other changes to Owens' budget, including a plan to open two driver's license offices in metro Denver, funds for construction on college campuses, more financial aid and money to reopen civil-rights offices in Pueblo and Grand Junction.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-954-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
Proposal highlights
Highlights of Gov. Ritter's "Recidivism Reduction and Offender Diversion" package.
Colorado Unified Supervision Treatment Program - $3.1 millionThe program calls for funding to create supervision and treatment options for offenders with mental health and substance abuse problems.
Also, money would be used to create treatment programs for methamphetamine abusers in metro Denver, the south metro area, the north metro area and the Western Slope.
Short-term Intensive Residential Remediation Treatment - $892,115
A program that provides two-week residential stays and after-care treatment for drug- and alcohol-abusers who have been unsuccessful in other treatment programs.
Sites:
Rifle - new center treating 130 women and 260 men with ongoing care for 220 offenders for eight months.
Fort Collins - new center for 260 men with ongoing care to 150 male offenders for eight months.
Arapahoe County - expanded center for 300 men with ongoing care for eight months.
Pueblo - expanded center for 130 adults for eight months.
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