The purposed of this project is to conduct a thorough analysis of the state's short and long term needs for prison capacity. The study will address the amount of capacity required, the type of beds needed, and operational efficiency. The end result will be a plan that identifies the optimal use of the state's prison resources to meet projected population demands.

The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) within the Department of Public Safety, and Legislative CouncilStaff are both charged with forecasting the state's prison population. These forecasts are designed to assist lawmakers in configuring prison bed space, capacity, and costs. The DCJ prepares two forecasts, one in the winter, and one in the summer that adjusts the previous winter forecast. Legislative Council Staff prepares a forecast each December...

The long-term vacancy of the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC) Centennial Correctional Facility South (CCF South) represents a significant waste of a resource that could potentially hold great value for the State of Colorado (state). The 948-bed facility was partially opened in 2010 but was subsequently closed in 2012. Changes in state policy on the use of administrative segregation (its original intended function) and the absence of outdoor...