County Officials Review Study on Jail Overcrowding in Boulder County 

The study used evidenced-based practices to examine the best use of county resources to ensure public safety and reduce recidivism

(Boulder County, Colo.) -- As part of Boulder County’s efforts to relieve overcrowding at the Boulder County Jail and reduce recidivism, an offender management study was commissioned by the Boulder County Commissioners to identify areas where potential changes to current policies, practices, or laws might lead to a long term reduction in the number of overnight stays (or “beds”) required at the jail.

The study was conducted by Justice Systems Partners under contract with the Boulder County Commissioners’ Office. The intent of the study was to use evidenced-based practices to examine the best use of county resources to ensure public safety with an additional aim of reducing recidivism. The full report is available on the county’s website at: http://bit.ly/2016BoCoJailStudy. 

The goals of the study were to:

• Provide a clear data analysis on how offenders are managed across multiple systems;
• Identify any gaps in resources that impact the use of the Jail (such as mental health and substance abuse services);
• Assess the need for additional programming to help inmates whose conditions of sentencing rely on treatment, stable employment, or housing;
• Look at areas where resources might be re-allocated to better serve at-risk offenders to prevent incarceration and reduce repeat offenses by the same individual;
• Consider options for moving low-risk offenders out of the jail and into community-based or alternative sentencing programs;
• Take a look at community reentry services and jail programming and how they work to positively impact recidivism. 

The study strongly suggests developing a strategic plan for the county’s criminal justice system, with an interagency approach to enhancing public safety and reducing recidivism. This would feature the increased use of risk-based assessments for inmates, rather than basing incarceration primarily on criminal charges. The findings and recommendations of the report fall into three main categories: system coordination and strategic planning; evidence-based decision making and case processing; and updated programs and other interventions.

Public officials in Boulder County, including the County Commissioners, the Boulder County Sheriff, and the Boulder District Attorney agree that the study is a good first step in identifying what could prove to be more effective and efficient ways to managing the inmate population in Boulder County.

Based on the report, the county will move forward with additional discussions with elected officials, staff, criminal justice system partners, judges, and contracted vendors to determine which of the recommendations should be further studied and what additional steps are needed to implement those recommendations. 

Statements from Boulder County Elected Officials

“We are excited to have this report as we strive to work collaboratively to determine how best to manage our inmate population with an eye to the safety of our public and our staff who work in the jail as well as to accomplish our overarching goal of reducing recidivism,” said Boulder County Commissioner Deb Gardner. “This study is a solid step forward in helping us to identify and implement the appropriate policies, services, and practices for addressing the needs and impacts of those in our community who are involved in Boulder County’s community justice system, with a special emphasis on preventing repeat offenses.”

“We are pleased to have this guidance in regard to long-term, or strategic planning,” said Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. “There are a number of proposals in this package, which will take time and patience to develop. However, the hope is to curb the projected growth in our jail population and get offenders placed in appropriate levels of supervision and treatment.”

Pelle added, “The Commissioners are also working with us to develop some more immediate solutions to jail crowding in order to relieve some of the acute crowding and staffing problems we have been dealing with recently. My hope is that between immediate solutions and long term strategic planning, the crowding and staffing issues at the jail will become an issue of the past.”

“The 20th Judicial District Attorney's Office very much appreciates the commitment of the Boulder County Commissioners to carefully evaluate the continuing problem of jail capacity with this study,” said Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett. “Public safety in any community requires a centrally-located jail with sufficient capacity to house dangerous defendants. At the same time, an effective offender management program should also include meaningful programs for rehabilitation and re-integration of offenders with less serious charges with the intent of preventing repeat offenses. I look forward to working with the Commissioners, the Sheriff, and other justice system partners to implement both short term and long term solutions for more effectively managing the county’s inmate population.”

Background

The incarceration rate in Boulder County has nearly tripled in the past 30 years, growing at a rate faster than both the state and the nation as a whole. For the past several years, the County Commissioners’ Office, Sheriff’s Office, and the Boulder District Attorney’s Office have been looking at ways to both ensure the safety of the general population while also looking at options for relieving the pressure on jail services from a growing inmate population at the Boulder County Jail. 

Through a program of alternative sentencing, work release, probation, and other programs, the Boulder County Jail currently maintains an average of 470 inmates even though the jail was originally designed to hold 287 inmates. With double bunking, the jail can accommodate a capacity of 560 inmates. However, industry standards recommend operating at no more than 80% of capacity, which translates to an optimal functioning level of no more than 480 beds.

Dates of the Study

The overall study took place from February to October, 2016. Pretrial supervision and probation intakes were surveyed for one month beginning in March. On March 15, a snapshot study of the county justice system was taken that included all incarcerated inmates, individuals in the various diversion, day reporting and work release programs, and clients in the Boulder and Longmont Community Treatment Centers.