NO on Prop 128:
Mandatory Minimums – Too Extreme for Colorado
Funded by right-wing billionaire extremists at Advance Colorado, Proposition 128 will extend prison sentences of elderly people who have already served long sentences, have aged out of crime, and who the parole board considers safe for release.
Proposition 128 would significantly delay discretionary parole and earned time eligibility for people convicted of certain felonies, requiring them to serve at least 85% of their sentence, up from the current 75%, before becoming eligible for release or earned time.
If passed, this misguided measure would undermine Colorado's current parole system and balloon the state prison budget without improving public safety.
Proposition 128 aims to scare voters rather than provide real solutions to public safety concerns. It appears to be a “tough on crime” policy, but it will not reduce crime. Here’s what it will do:
✖ Balloon Colorado’s $1.2 billion annual prison budget
✖ Decrease safety for prison guards*
✖ Jeopardize “good behavior” incentives for people in prison
✖ Extend prison sentences for elderly people
✖ Prioritize retribution over rehabilitation.
✖ Increase negative economic, behavioral, and educational outcomes for the children and families of people who are incarcerated by implementing disproven public safety methods
✖ Unjustly punish people who have worked hard to rehabilitate themselves while incarcerated and have proven they are ready to return home
*COWINS, the state employees union that represents Correctional officers, are opposed
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High Costs to Coloradans if Proposition128 passes:
For more information, see Colorado Fiscal Institute’s Prop 128 Fiscal Impact Brief.
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