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Community Corrections Board

The authority for establishing policies and procedures of the 9th Judicial District Community Corrections Board is vested in Garfield County Commissioners’ Resolution 2007-52, as promulgated June 11, 2007.

Contact information

Katie Biorn, chair – contact
Travis Horton, liaison – email

Board duties

The Garfield County Department Community Corrections Board shall conduct screening committee meetings to determine the eligibility of candidates for placement within the Community Corrections facility program.

According to legislative declaration and the Victim Right Act 24-4.1 of the Colorado Constitution, screening committees may give due consideration to the input of victims prior to finalizing placement decisions on perspective Community Corrections candidates. This input is allowed via written victim impact statements. Victims may also make a verbal statement to the screening committee within identified parameters during the course of the screen committee meeting.

The Garfield County Community Corrections Board screening committee meets on Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. to review referrals for diversion cases, (those referrals from the probation department prior to court sentencing), and transitional cases (those referred from the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) for community placement prior to release from prison), and conditional placement considerations, (those requesting placement in the Community Corrections facility for conditions of parole or probation).

The screening committee must have a quorum present to complete the voting process. For the screening committee process, a quorum will consist of at least 4 voting members and the director/designee. A tied vote will require the director of Criminal Justice Services/designee to vote. This vote carries forward as a recommendation to the director of Criminal Justice Services who has the authority to override the recommendation. The director’s decision for placement is final.

Referrals will be sent to the director from CDOC and probation for review. The director will forward referrals to the screening committee for their review prior the screening committee meeting. Complete referrals must be received by the director by Thursday at 5 p.m. to be scheduled for the following Tuesday (exceptions must be made through the director).

Victims wishing to provide input for the screening boards review are encouraged to submit written statements to be forwarded to the screening committee with the referral prior to the screening meeting. Those who desire to attend a screening committee meeting in person must contact the Director of Criminal Justice Services to schedule their attendance. Normally, individual statements to the screening committee will be limited to 10 or 15 minutes cumulatively for larger groups.

Screening committee decisions will be the result of a vote with each member present signing their name to on the voting sheet either supporting placement or rejection of the candidate during that meeting. Reasons considered for denial will be recorded on the voting sheet of each person denied. Victims will be directed to contact the director the next business day for notification of the screening committee’s decision.

The screening committee will individually consider and discuss as a group the following criteria when reviewing an applicant’s referral: (The decision-making tool for Garfield County Community Corrections contains the following factor areas):

  • The applicant’s LSI/CTAP or other assessment scores
  • The applicant’s community based support or lack of it (area ties)
  • The applicant’s ability/demonstrated willingness to work
  • The applicant’s criminal justice related history – security threat group affiliation, escape history – attempts
  • The applicant’s criminal history, Prior community placements
  • The applicant’s Mental health and medical health related needs (are services available in our area) (review the referral packet for identified needs)
  • The applicant’s preliminary substance use needs (does our program offer appropriate services?)
  • History of disciplinary infractions (prison, jail, Community Corrections)
  • Victim information if available (written and/or verbal statements)
  • Length of time left for the offender to participate in the program
  • Space availability
  • Nature and circumstances of the current offense
  • Offender statements (written only)

CDOC transition referrals must demonstrate family support within the judicial district and be able and willing to obtain full-time employment, with no known custody issues at the local facility.

The screening committee will utilize one of the decision-making work sheets, attachment 1, to document consideration of the many evidence-based screening factors considered when selecting or denying placement. This decision sheet will be utilized for diversion and transitional referrals, to include conditional placements. The screening committee will complete a screening committee decision work sheet for each case screened and attach to the completed voting sheet for archival.

Screening committee decisions will be the result of a vote with each member present signing their name on the voting sheet either supporting placement or rejection of the candidate during that meeting. Screening committee members may abstain from voting and will not sign the voting sheet for that candidate. Screening committee members that cannot be present may submit their individual vote and supporting statements to the director prior to the scheduled screening time via email.

Transition referrals will require the committee to list “reason for denial,” “areas to improve upon” and “time frame for re-review” sections to be completed on the decision-making work sheet.

Majority vote rules unless overturned by the director of Criminal Justice Services. The screening committee must have a quorum present to complete the voting process. For the screening committee process, a quorum will consist of at least 4 voting members and the director/designee.

A tied vote will require the director of Criminal Justice Services/designee to vote. If there is not a tie, this vote carries forward as a recommendation to the director of Criminal Justice Services who has the authority to override the recommendation.

The director of Criminal Justice Services will review all Colorado Department of Corrections transitional referrals and may screen out the referrals that do not meet the basic criteria of placement at this facility. A decision sheet will be completed for all referrals reviewed and decided upon by the director. The remaining referrals will be forwarded to the screening committee members for processing. The director’s decision for placement is final.

Bylaws

The Garfield County Community Corrections Board has three primary responsibilities as follows:

  1. Act as an advisory council to the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners on Community Corrections matters and assure citizen involvement.
  2. Provide counsel, direction and oversight to the Criminal Justice Services director and staff in operational and programmatic matters.
  3. Act as a State of Colorado Community Corrections Placement Board, which reviews cases and has the authority to approve / deny placement and funding for client candidates, (diversion, transition, condition of parole and work release).

Article I – membership

The Community Corrections Board shall consist of members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and members selected by the Community Corrections Board. The Board shall oversee operations and formulate / implement policy guiding the Community Corrections Program. The Board will work with the Criminal Justice Services director/administrator to ensure the successful operation of Community Corrections in the 9th Judicial District. The Board is empowered to make eligibility, placement and funding decisions for clients in this district.

  • Composition: The board shall consist of residents of the Ninth Judicial District and members of the associated criminal justice agencies in that district. The professional membership is established in Garfield County, Colorado Resolution 2007-52.
  • Term: Members of the Community Corrections Board shall serve at the pleasure of the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners.
  • Vacancies: Citizen member vacancies occurring because of resignation or for any other reason will be filled by Community Corrections board and ratified by the Board of County Commissioners.

Article II – meetings

Regular meetings will be conducted on the second Wednesday of each month. The Secretary of the facility staff will ensure that notification of the meeting date, time and location are sent via email to all board members. All meetings shall be open to the public.

  • Quorum: A majority of board members present is required to pass on issues and resolutions presented to the board. The chairperson shall be permitted to vote on all resolutions and issues.
  • Special meetings: Special meetings of the Community Corrections Board or the executive committee may be called with five (5) days written notice or upon waiver of all the members affected.
  • Voting: Decision of the board shall be determined by a majority vote of those members present and all votes will be conducted verbally.

Article III – officers

Officers of the Community Corrections Board shall include a chairperson, vice chairperson, and treasurer – secretary who shall constitute the executive committee of this board.

  • Terms: All officers may serve as many terms as they are re-elected. Terms shall consist of two (2) years from the date of election, and elections will be held at the first regularly scheduled meeting of even numbered years.
  • Chairperson: The chair shall preside at all meetings and perform all duties usually pertaining to the office, to include signing contracts with judicial districts and holding member elections.
  • Vice-chairperson: The vice-chair shall in the absence of the chair perform the duties of the chair.
  • Treasurer – Secretary: The treasurer shall monitor the finances of the Community Correction Board Administrative Funds and the Community Corrections Department. This information will be presented at regularly scheduled board meetings.
  • In the event of a position becoming vacant, the executive committee will appoint the appropriate replacement for the duration of the current term.

Article IV – staff

The director of the Community Corrections Department shall be the primary staff. Additional support personnel shall be determined and delegated by the director for projects according to the assessment of need. The Garfield County Attorney’s Office serves as legal counsel to the Community Corrections Board.

County employees may act in the capacity of technical assistants to the Community Corrections Board and the Director of Community Corrections subject to the approval of the Director and the Board of County Commissioners.