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.
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4 responses so far ↓
1 Patrick Lilly // Apr 8, 2007 at 10:21 am
I can hardly believe that you let Ari Zavaras spout his Dept. of Corrections party line, claiming that he wants to “do something” about the “problem” of people going back to prison. He, of all people, should know that this is no fluke. It is the scripted and intended consequence of the very system he oversee. The legislature has condemned thousands of people to life imprisonment–no matter what their initial “sentence” is–and the dishonest parole system, in tandem with dishonest law enforcement, helps make sure that is indeed the outcome. Lack of funding is definitely not the problem. In fact, less money would actually help. The problem is vicious legislation and vicious law enforcement, and only repeal of statutes will help.
2 Kim // Apr 23, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Does anyone know why the halfway house on Clarkson St in Downtown denver closed?
It was an after boot camp half way house.
3 Mary L. Wendorf // Jul 8, 2007 at 4:29 pm
My grandson has been caught up in this massive corruption scandal and he never should have been sent to prison because he did not have an adult record to send him to SCF. We are on our 7th year trying to prove his innocence. We can not get any help from Mr. Zavarras.
4 Sunny // Jul 25, 2007 at 4:05 pm
The colorado justice system is the worst of the worst. those who are sentenced to prison are not given a fair sentence and while in prison are’nt given ANY opportunity to learn anything or improve themselves. They are set up to fail.This is especially true of private prisons.
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