Parole

Who Sets Parole Conditions?

Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) 17-2-201 grants the State Board of Parole the authority to decide whether an incarcerated person will be released on parole when eligible, and what conditions of supervision they must follow while on parole. Even when parole is statutorily required (often referred to as mandatory parole), the Parole Board determines the specific conditions a person must follow. 

How Are Conditions Decided?

When evaluating a request for parole release, the Board considers several factors, including the individual's case file, sentence, and institutional record. They also assess risk evaluations, treatment progress, and input from victims, as required by the Victim's Rights Act (CRS 24-4.1-302.5). The Board analyzes community safety needs and opportunities for successful re-entry, along with other relevant factors. Based on this comprehensive review, the Board establishes specific conditions tailored to the individual's needs. The Board may adjust conditions as necessary throughout the parole period.  

Standard Conditions are those that apply to all parolees. Standard conditions include reporting to a Community Parole Officer (CPO), maintaining a residence, securing employment, avoiding criminal activity, complying with drug and alcohol testing requirements, adhering to travel restrictions, and other supervision directives. 

Special or individual conditions are established on a case-by-case basis to address specific risks and needs. These conditions are in addition to the standard parole conditions. Examples of special conditions may include offense-specific treatment, mental health or substance abuse treatment, curfews, electronic monitoring, and restrictions on associations or contact with certain individuals.

If the Board decides to grant parole, it will issue a Parole Agreement or Parole Order, which the offender must sign.

Community Parole Officers (CPOs) supervise individuals who have been conditionally released into the community. Their role involves ensuring that these individuals comply with the Parole Order or Agreement established by the State Board of Parole. CPOs utilize various resources to promote rehabilitation, address instances of non-compliance, and support successful reintegration into the community.

The Parole Agreement or Parole Order, will instruct the parolee to report to a designated parole office. If a specific office location is not provided, the parolee should call CWISE at 1-800-426-9143 for assistance. During their initial visit, the parolee will meet with a Community Parole Officer (CPO) to review necessary documents and confirm subsequent appointments. The parolee will also receive copies of all signed documentation.

The parolee has the opportunity to work on personal growth areas that have previously posed concerns or challenges, all in an effort to achieve success. 

Earned Discharge or Early Discharge is obtainable for most parolees. Parolees must complete 50% of their full sentence, complete all treatment requirements, and be successful with their supervision. For additional information, refer to Administrative Regulation 250-29 Early/Earned Discharge, which may be found on our Department Policies page.

Interventions are used as tools to identify negative actions or behavior in the parolee and teach positive tactics to overcome those behaviors that have an effect on their overall success on parole and in the community.

• Substance Use Treatment - outpatient and inpatient (residential)
• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
• Intensive Outpatient
• Mental Health
• Domestic Violence
• Parenting
• Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)
• Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT)
• Trauma Therapy

Absconder:

An absconder is a parolee who willfully evades supervision by failing to comply with reporting requirements, changes their residence without prior notification to their community parole officer, leaving the state without permission, or otherwise ceasing contact with supervision, making their whereabouts unknown. The determination of absconding is based upon documented non-compliance, investigative efforts by the supervising officer, and the exhaustion of reasonable attempts to reestablish contact with the parolee.

Unauthorized Absence:

Unauthorized Absence as defined in C.R.S. 18-8-208.2, is a person who is serving a direct sentence to a community corrections program pursuant to section 18-1.3-301: transitioning from the Department of Corrections to a Community Corrections program or placed in an intensive supervision program pursuant to section 17-27.5-101; participating in a work release or home detention program pursuant to 18-1.3-106(1.1), intensive supervision program, or any other similar authorized supervised or unsupervised absence from a detention facility as defined in section 18-8-203 (3); or is housed in a staff secure facility as defined in section 19-1-103 (101.5) commits the crime of unauthorized absence if the person knowingly:

·     Leaves or fails to return to his or her residential or facility location without permission of the supervising agency and in violation of the terms and conditions of supervision; or

·     Removes or tampers with an electronic surveillance device required by the supervising agency to be worn by the person in order to monitor his or her location, without permission and with the intent to avoid arrest, prosecution, monitoring or other legal process. 

If a parolee is unable to contact their CPO to update their location (for example, in a treatment center or a hospital) another person may contact the CPO for them in emergencies by calling CWISE at 1-800-426-9143 or the Fugitive Tip Line at 1-866-873-6305.

If an offender has technical parole violations (such as getting discharged from treatment) or commits a new law violation (a criminal offense), then the offender can be placed in front of the Parole Board for a Parole Board Hearing. The Parole Board Hearing is a court hearing with the Parole Board Member as the judge. The offender will either wait for their Parole Board Hearing in jail or in the community on a summons.

If the Parole Board revokes the offender, the offender will go back to a DOC facility for a specific amount of time.

If the offender is not revoked by the Parole Board, the offender will continue on parole with additional (and sometimes new) requirements.

Interventions can and may be used in lieu of a disciplinary-type hearing to address concerning behavior before the parolee is revoked and returned to prison.  Interventions are actions done by the Community Parole Officer to address negative or poor behaviors shown by the parolee. When the Community Parole Officer addresses these negative behaviors, they are providing the parolee with tactics, options, and alternatives to address their own behavior and make more positive choices for themselves.

These may include behavior/choices worksheets, Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Inpatient Residential Treatment (IRT), Jail based treatment (JBT), loss of earned time, Inter-disciplinary treatment meetings, Electronic Monitoring, curfew restrictions, increased treatment, and one-on-one sessions.

There may be times where Interventions cannot be used due to the significant nature of the poor behavior displayed by the parolee.

Read our frequently asked questions or contact us for more information.