CCJRC Action Alert
Save the Beacon program @ Skyline Correctional Facility
Please contact members of the Joint Budget Committee before noon on Tues, January 30th
January 21, 2025
On Thurs, 1/23, the Joint Budget Committee will be voting on a bill that adjusts the Department of Corrections current budget (FY24-25). This is called a budget “supplemental” and is separate from the Long Bill which will set the DOC budget for next year (FY25-26).
For the supplemental, because the prison population is not growing as much as anticipated, the DOC will need to reduce the number of prison beds that they got funding for in the FY24-25 budget. DOC has proposed not just reducing the number of beds but also doing a “bed swap” by closing lower security beds and using the savings to open higher security beds. On the chopping block, again, is the closure of Skyline which houses the Beacon program, an honor unit and one of DOC’s most effective programs. DOC is also proposing to cut 100 lower security beds at Sterling and 96 beds at Delta while simultaneously proposing to take $4.6m to open the third Tower (316 beds) at Centennial-South (also known as Colorado State Pen II), the highest security prison.
DOC tried to close Skyline last year but people incarcerated at Skyline and their loved ones led the effort to save Beacon, and they did. CCJRC needs you to please contact members of the Joint Budget Committee before Thurs to oppose the closure of Skyline/Beacon and the opening of Tower 3 at Centennial South.
Joint Budget Committee Members
Representative Bird, Vice Chair, (D-29 Adams/Jeffco) shannon.bird.house@coleg.gov
Senator Judy Amabile (D-18 Boulder), judy.amabile.senate@coleg.gov
Senator Jeff Bridges, Chair (D-26 Arapahoe/Denver/Jeffco), jeff.bridges.senate@coleg.gov
Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer (R-23 Larimer/Weld), barbara.kirkmeyer.senate@coleg.gov
Representative Emily Sirota (D-9 Arapahoe/Denver), emily.sirota.house@coleg.gov
Representative Rick Taggart (R-55 Mesa), rick.taggart.house@coleg.gov
Thank you! CCJRC is in contact with people who are in the Beacon Program at Skyline and they are also very grateful for your support and solidarity.
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