November 9, 2007
Ritter's First Budget
November 9, 2007 5:35 PM
State lawmakers on the budget committee praised the Governor's first budget but say it doesn't do enough to address Colorado's over stressed prison system. Currently several hundred inmates are being housed out of state because there's no room for them in Colorado. The committee heard the Governor's budget request Thursday. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
[LISTEN]
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September 13, 2007
Local News Round-Up for September 13, 2007
September 13, 2007 5:08 PM
Inmate Attacks Limon Prison Supervisor
New GOP Senate Candidate Announces
Tancredo to Get Federal Matching Funds for Campaign
State Supreme Court OKs Lawsuit Against Denver Archdiocese
[LISTEN]
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September 11, 2007
Sheriff Fingers Bacteria in Jailhouse Illness
September 11, 2007 5:24 PM
Pueblo County has identified clostridium perfringens as the bug that made 126 of its jail inmates sick last week, but it's still unclear exactly who is reponsible.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:24 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Health , Prisons , Pueblo , Science
September 5, 2007
126 Inmates Sick at Pueblo County Jail
September 5, 2007 5:38 PM
Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk Taylor says 126 inmates in the county jail are sick with diarrhea and vomiting, and health officials are trying to find the cause. County public health nurse Jody Carrillio says stool samples have been sent to the state lab in Denver for testing. In the meantime, jail officials are taking precautions to prevent the spread of infections.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:38 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Crime , Health , Prisons , Pueblo
August 29, 2007
McFadyen: Supermax Staffing Still Dangerously Low 1 Year After Promised Reforms
August 29, 2007 5:23 PM
It's been one year since a federal judge ordered the Department of Justice to improve security at the Supermax prison in Florence. And the state representative for that area says it hasn't happened yet. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:23 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Colorado , Crime , Prisons
May 1, 2007
Decreased Penalties for Theft Crimes?
May 1, 2007 5:47 PM
A law that would reduce prison sentences for stealing cars, check fraud and other theft crimes cleared the senate chamber Monday. Proponents say the bill would save the state millions of dollars in prison costs. The measure now heads to the house for debate. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
[LISTEN]
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April 6, 2007
Inverview with Dept. of Corrections Head
April 6, 2007 11:34 PM
In Colorado about half of the people who get out of prison end up back behind bars within three years. Some parole officers supervise more than 100 offenders and the state's prisons have reached max capacity. Governor Bill Ritter says the state needs to address these problems and reduce recidivism. Bente Birkeland spoke with the new executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, Ari Zavaras, who used to head the department in the nineties. Zavaras talked about the changes taking place and his goals to help inmates succeed on the outside.
[ LISTEN ]
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 11:34 PM| Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Prisons
February 22, 2007
Gonzales: Supermax safe. Union: Skeptical.
February 22, 2007 11:08 AM
Supermax is safe and security is getting better. That’s the message from U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who visited the federal lockup in Fremont County Wednesday, Feb. 21. But a guard’s union says fixes are just masking a bigger nationwide problem.
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Read More --> Continue reading "Gonzales: Supermax safe. Union: Skeptical." »
Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:08 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Crime , Politics , Prisons
February 20, 2007
Attorney General Gonzales to Visit Supermax
February 20, 2007 5:29 PM
WHITNEY: U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzales will visit the Supermax prison in Florence tomorrow. Supermax came under fire last fall when federal investigations found that convicted terrorists and gang leaders were able to communicate with associates outside the bars, and even run criminal operations from inside the facility.
Part of the reason for the security breaches was understaffing. So said the union that represents correctional officers at Supermax. And last fall a federal arbitrator agreed. The result has been 30 new staffers being added to Supermax. Union representative Mike Schnobrich, who works at the facility, says thats a good start.
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Posted by Matthias Barker at 5:29 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Crime , Politics , Prisons
February 8, 2007
Ari Zavaras Takes the Reins at Department of Corrections, Again.
February 8, 2007 5:22 PM
Sorry, no transcript available for this story. Listen to it here:
[ LISTEN ]
Posted by Matthias Barker at 5:22 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Crime , Politics , Prisons
Abolish the Death Penalty in Colorado?
February 8, 2007 5:19 PM
KRCC NEWS, Thursday, February 8, 2007
Listen to this story here: http://capcov.org/cgi-bin/showpost.cgi?328
Louisville Democrat Paul Weissman wants to take the money the state currently spends pursuing death penalty cases and use it to fund cold case investigations into Colorados 1,200 unsolved homicides. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
BENTE: The bill would use the money spent on death penalty cases to set up a seven member statewide cold case unit. Democratic Representative Paul Weissmann from Louisville is the bills sponsor.
WEISSMAN: To me its such an amazing thing that theres 1,200 unsolved homicides in this state. From a public safety standpoint that means theres close to 1,200 murderers walking our streets.
BENTE: Currently two people in Colorado sit on death row, and Weissmann says under bill theyd stay there. And Even though Weissmann says he opposes the death penalty, he says thats not what the bill is really about.
WEISSMAN: You could debate the moral issues forever and never resolve it. Does an eye for an eye trump though shalt not kill? I dont know and I dont think Ill ever know that answer. But the economics are cut and dry.
BENTE: Wiessman says the state will save $750,000 by not continuing to pursue death penalty cases. Most of that money would go towards the cold case units. But opponents of the bill say the death penalty is a necessary form of punishment. They also say diverting money from death penalty cases is a bad funding mechanism. Democrats and one Republican voted for the bill. It now heads to an appropriations committee.
JOHNSON: Were not talking about building speculative transmission. Weve already identified constraints on the system today. We have wind generation on our system today that weve located in areas where we conventional generation but both cannot operate at the same time. This is not just build it they will come, its build to areas we already know are constrained.
BENTE: The bill passed unanimously and now heads to the senate floor for final approval.
Posted by Matthias Barker at 5:19 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Crime , Politics , Prisons
December 14, 2006
AUDIT: PRISON OFFICIAL MOONLIGHTED FOR PRIVATE PRISON COMPANY
December 14, 2006 7:18 PM
archivesAUDIT: PRISON OFFICIAL MOONLIGHTED FOR PRIVATE PRISON COMPANY
An audit report made public Tuesday says a top state prison official was on the payroll of a private prison company while the company was doing business with the state. He could reap $1 million for his efforts. Meanwhile, the company he worked for says it won't fulfill a contract unless the state guarantees it a certain amount of business. Bente Birkeland reports. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 7:18 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Legal , Prisons
November 29, 2006
GUARDS SAY SUPERMAX IS DANGEROUSLY UNDERSTAFFED
November 29, 2006 4:58 PM
archivesGUARDS SAY SUPERMAX IS DANGEROUSLY UNDERSTAFFED
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has failed to improve security at Supermax after a judge ordered them to do so. That's the contention of a prison workers union. Since the ruling, staffing shortages at the federal prison in Florence have garnered national and international attention. The Federal Bureau of Prisons is facing pressure from both of Colorado's senators and the U.S. Attorney General who is planning to visit Colorado to tour the site. From Denver Bente Birkeland reports. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:58 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business/Labor , Prisons
October 18, 2006
PRISONS IN COLORADO - DANGEROUSLY UNDERSTAFFED
October 18, 2006 3:55 PM
archivesPRISONS IN COLORADO - DANGEROUSLY UNDERSTAFFED
In the last week a judge scolded federal prison officials for not having an adequate number of officers, and the state announced fines for private prison contractors. The fines are based on unfilled guard positions. And, as Bente Birkeland reports, state-run prisons have cut hundreds of correctional officers in recent years, too. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 3:55 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Legal Affairs , Prisons
June 30, 2006
PRIVATE PRISON CELLS TO DOUBLE IN COLORADO
June 30, 2006 9:13 AM
archivesPRIVATE PRISON CELLS TO DOUBLE IN COLORADO
Colorado has awarded private prison contracts to three companies the same week it fined one of the companies for understaffing problems. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 9:13 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business/Labor , Colorado , Prisons
March 31, 2006
SHERIFFS AND THEIR JAIL WOES
March 31, 2006 1:46 PM
archivesSHERIFFS AND THEIR JAIL WOES
Last weekend's escape from the Pueblo County jail was due in part to severe overcrowding. The facility holds more than twice as many inmates as it was designed for. The head of Colorado's County Sheriff's Association says Pueblo County is not alone. Meanwhile, just 35 miles west of Pueblo, a brand new 96-bed jail has sat empty for three years. Fremont County's sheriff explains why. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:46 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Legal Affairs , Prisons , Regional
March 29, 2006
NEWSCAST
March 29, 2006 11:58 AM
archivesNEWSCAST
4 stories: Pueblo Jail Escapees Caught, Grand Junction Bombing Suspects Still at Large, Aspen Welcomes Olympic Silver Medalist Home, and Denver Observes World TB day. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:58 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Indoor/Outdoor Recreation , Prisons , Regional
NEWSCAST
March 29, 2006 11:15 AM
archivesNEWSCAST
4 stories: Pueblo Jail Escapees Caught, Grand Junction Bombing Suspect Still at Large, Aspen Welcomes Olympic Silver Medalist Home, and Denver Observes World TB day. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:15 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Indoor/Outdoor Recreation , Prisons , Regional
August 25, 2005
Private Prison Woes
August 25, 2005 7:20 PM
archivesPRIVATE PRISON WOES
Eric Whitney talks to policy analyst Judy Greene about the systemic problems with Colorado's private prisons. [LISTEN] []
EXPANDED CONTENT--> Many of the private prisons' inadequacies came to light in this June report by State Auditor Joanne Hill.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 7:20 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Politics , Prisons
Prison Lawsuit
August 25, 2005 7:19 PM
archivesPRISON LAWSUIT
Maeve Conran reports on a lawsuit recently filed by eighty-six current and former prisoners who say they were subject to numerous cruelties after last year's riot at the Crowley County Correctional Facility. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 7:19 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Legal Affairs , Prisons
August 24, 2005
Helping Corrections Officers
August 24, 2005 12:57 PM
archivesHELPING CORRECTIONS OFFICERS
Lydia Reynolds has details on a new national organization in Fremont County. Desert Waters Correctional Outreach provides confidential counseling for corrections officers who need assistance coping with the stress that comes from working in prison. [LISTEN] []
EXPANDED CONTENT--> Desert Waters Correctional Outreach is online at www.DesertWaters.com.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 12:57 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Health , Prisons , Regional
May 7, 2005
Allegations at Brush Correctional Facility
May 7, 2005 12:55 PM
archivesALLEGATIONS AT BRUSH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Western Skies' Jon Wilson takes a visit to the first private prison in Colorado to house female inmates. He talks to the owner of the prison company, Gil Walker, about allegations of sexual misconduct at the facility. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 12:55 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Legal Affairs , Prisons
January 24, 2005
Wyoming Prison Siting by Stephen Raher
January 24, 2005 1:42 PM
archivesStephen Raher reports from Riverton, Wyoming, where the city's plans to recruit a new state prison have sparked a debate on whether prisons are good for rural economies. [LISTEN]
Read More --> Continue reading "Wyoming Prison Siting by Stephen Raher" »
Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:42 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Politics , Prisons
