The 10:00 PM Universal Phone Cutoff

We, the undersigned family members, friends, advocates, and concerned members of the community, are calling on the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) to reconsider the recently implemented 10:00 PM cutoff for incarcerated individuals’ telephone access.

We understand that correctional facilities must maintain security, structure, and accountability. We are not asking CDOC to eliminate reasonable rules or consequences.

We are asking CDOC to recognize that family communication is not a privilege without purpose—it is an important part of maintaining family relationships, emotional stability, community connections, and successful reintegration.

Why We Are Concerned

CDOC has reportedly justified the universal 10:00 PM cutoff as a way to create “consistency” between facilities.

But Colorado facilities do not have identical custody levels, schedules, programs, work assignments, or populations. A universal cutoff may be administratively consistent, but consistency alone does not demonstrate that the policy is necessary, reasonable, or appropriate for every facility.

There is also concern that the cutoff was implemented before the corresponding written policy was updated and without adequate notification to incarcerated individuals and their families.

We are asking CDOC to be transparent about:

When the decision was made;
Who authorized it;
When it became effective;
What written authority supports its enforcement;
How incarcerated individuals were notified;
How families were notified;
What specific operational or security concern prompted the change; and
Whether the impact on families and rehabilitation was considered.
Consider the Incentive Structure

Colorado’s correctional system uses custody levels, behavioral expectations, programming, and progression as part of managing incarcerated populations.

So what message is being sent when individuals work to improve their behavior and advance through the system, but meaningful differences in privileges are reduced or eliminated?

People respond to incentives.

If individuals are expected to work toward better behavior, lower custody levels, successful programming, and eventual reintegration, the system should provide meaningful reasons to continue making those positive choices.

Removing constructive outlets and making privileges increasingly uniform regardless of progress can create frustration and a sense that advancement does not matter.

Rehabilitation cannot simply ask people to do better. The system must also give them meaningful reasons to keep doing better.

Family Connection Matters

For many incarcerated individuals, a telephone call is their primary connection to their spouse, children, parents, and other loved ones.

Families are already navigating distance, work schedules, visitation restrictions, financial limitations, and the realities of incarceration.

Reducing access to communication should not be treated as an insignificant administrative change.

If family connection is important to rehabilitation, then policies should strengthen those connections—not unnecessarily restrict them.

What We Are Asking

We are calling on CDOC to:

1. Review the 10:00 PM universal telephone cutoff.

2. Provide a clear explanation of the policy’s purpose and necessity.

3. Identify the individual or authority responsible for approving the change.

4. Provide the written policy, directive, or authority supporting its enforcement.

5. Explain how and when incarcerated individuals and families were notified.

6. Consider differences in facility schedules, custody levels, and populations rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach solely for administrative consistency.

7. Consider the impact of the policy on family relationships, rehabilitation, and incentives for positive behavior.

8. Consider whether reasonable telephone access can be preserved while still meeting legitimate security and operational requirements.

Our Message to CDOC

We understand that incarceration comes with restrictions.

We understand that CDOC has a job to do.

But making an incarcerated person’s life more difficult should not automatically be considered good correctional policy.

There should be a legitimate purpose behind restrictions, and that purpose should be supported by evidence, clearly communicated, and balanced against the consequences for families and rehabilitation.

We are asking CDOC to listen, explain, review, and reconsider.

If this issue continues without meaningful answers or review, we intend to bring these concerns to news media, elected representatives, and other appropriate oversight authorities.

SIGN THE PETITION

By signing this petition, I am asking the Colorado Department of Corrections to review the 10:00 PM universal telephone cutoff and consider a policy that balances institutional security with family connection, rehabilitation, incentives for positive behavior, and reasonable access to communication.

Our families deserve a voice.
Our incarcerated loved ones deserve meaningful incentives to progress.
And correctional policy should be based on more than simply making every facility operate the same way.