Opinion: We tried lock-’em-up before, and it didn’t work

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Narratives about crime and punishment take center stage as Colorado’s 2023 legislative session intensifies. From catalytic converter thefts to fentanyl distribution, Colorado legislators care about preserving safety in our communities.

However,  Senate Bill 23-214, in combination with the already-passed Senate Bill 23-113, would swell the Colorado Department of Corrections budget to more than $1 billion for the first time in Colorado history and would add funding for more than 1,000 additional prison beds. Yet, mass incarceration does not equal public safety. Throwing money at a correctional crisis will only exacerbate Colorado’s reliance on prisons over people.

Instead, we must improve access to community mental health and substance abuse treatment and affordable housing…

Hillary Vervalin

2023-04-15 01:30:00

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