Community Corrections in Weld County, Colorado \ Prison Alternative Location to Serve Sentence

In Weld County, and across Colorado, Community Corrections is a non-prison alternative location to serve a felony sentence other than the Department of Corrections, for felony crimes. Offenders are able to serve their sentence, receive treatment, and still be active in the community. It is generally less expensive to house inmates there, as opposed to prison. However, when deciding if an inmate should be at CC, the safety of the community is put above everything. Those convicted of drug related offenses are usually the first to be considered, while sex offenders are considered last.

What is Community Corrections in Greeley and Weld County?

In Greeley, and Weld County, Community Corrections is a placement alternative to prison for those convicted of felony offenses. A judge can sentence a person to CC, just as they can sentence a person to probation, jail, or prison. The Department of Corrections can also house inmates here. Inmates with the privilege of participating are expected to be changing their behavior in exchange for the privilege of restricted access to the community.

How Does Someone get into Community Corrections for their Windsor, Longmont, or Firestone Felony Conviction?

When someone is convicted for a felony in Windsor, Longmont, or Firestone, if they want to get into Community Corrections, they have to be referred by either the State District Courts or by DOC. If recommended by the State District Court, these cases are known as Diversion cases. If referred to by DOC, these cases are known as Transition cases, since inmates are transitioning from prison to community life.

Once the inmate has been referred to CC, they will undergo screening by the Weld County Community Corrections Board. Typically, this board is made up of a variety of average professionals in the community. When the inmate has passed the board’s screening, they will be passed on to the appropriate treatment or residential facility. Here they will undergo another screening. If approved there too, the inmate can then be put into Community Corrections as soon as a bed is available.

Difference Between Parole, Probation, and Community Corrections for Greeley, Platteville, and Frederick Residents

For Greeley, Platteville, and Frederick residences, there are a few key differences between parole, probation, and Community Corrections to understand. Parole is when an inmate is released back into the community after prison. They generally live at home and check in with a Parole Officer. Probation is a sentencing alternative to jail or DOC. Similar to parole, probationers live at home, are active in the community, and check in with their probation officer. Inmates participating in Community Corrections will live in a facility and are constantly supervised by security and case management staff. When these inmates leave the facility, whether for work, treatment, or for fun, the staff will randomly verify where the person is and what they are doing. Inmates must follow strict curfews when returning to the facility, or incur a technical violation of their status. Community Corrections is more similar to Work Release, than to probation or parole.

Benefits of Community Corrections for Greeley, Severance, and Brighton Communities

Community Corrections has brought many benefits to Greeley, Severance, and Brighton communities. Offenders are already considered lower risk, but in combination with treatment, education, and better help finding employment, they are even less of a risk because they are focused on building their future. In addition to benefiting the inmates, this type of sentence also benefits the communities.

• CC housing is significantly more cost effective than prison housing.
  • Taxpayers spend more money to keep the prisons functioning as their populations continue to rise.
• Inmates are in a different environment focused on rehabilitation. Offenders here are supervised and undergo treatment and education that encourages better long-term behavior for them. Punishment is no longer the primary goal.
  • Research has shown that prison incarceration has minimal impact on long term behavioral recidivism. They are more likely to re-offend.

Life in Community Corrections for Weld County, La Salle,

Evans, and Johnstown Offenders

Life in Community Corrections for Weld County, La Salle, Evans, and Johnstown offenders is anything but relaxed. First, offenders must be employed as a part of the program. Typical functioning members of society work and pay taxes, so these offenders are expected to do the same. In addition to working and being financially responsible, these people also attend classes and participate in treatment. Offenders can also earn privileges with good behavior by demonstrating that they can follow the rules of the program, and they have been progressing though different levels of supervision. These privileges mostly revolve around extra time they can spend in the community, aside from their work.

Generally, inmates will spend about a year and a half or less in the Community Corrections program. They will reside in the actual facility for about 6 – 7 months. Once they have progressed enough, they can live outside the facility. Offenders tend to live off site for about 10 to 11 months, while still being involved in treatment.

Goals of Community Corrections vs. Prison in Weld County

In Weld County, the goals of the Community Corrections and the goals of the Colorado Department of Corrections are vastly different. Community Corrections is focused on rehabilitation and reintegration. They want to teach offenders how to be a productive member of society while helping them take care of their issues and teaching them skills. The Colorado Department of Corrections is more focused on containment and punishment. Though both institutions value and prioritize community safety, DOC tends to take a firm stance. If there is a doubt that an offender is dangerous to the community and may be likely to reoffend, the offender will be kept within their walls. CC will weigh the offender’s background and progress against the chance that they might reoffend. It is up to the offender to prove he is trustworthy.

Generally, serving out your sentence in Community Corrections is much more favorable than serving it out at the Colorado Department of Corrections. Our criminal defense lawyers are familiar with integrating a CC sentence into the sentence considerations for the DA and the judge. Especially for those convicted of a felony who are low risk to society, Community Corrections is an attractive sentence alternative.