Panel advances earned‑time changes and a prison capacity working group despite law‑enforcement opposition

The House Judiciary Committee advanced Senate Bill 159, a measure that modestly increases earned‑time incentives for some incarcerated people, raises achievement credit caps for behavioral‑health programming, and creates a multi‑stakeholder working group to assess capacity and programming gaps. The committee voted roughly 7–4 to send the bill to the committee of the whole.

Sponsors said the changes are targeted and backed by research linking education and therapeutic programming to lower recidivism. "Two extra days a month compounded over time is meaningful," Representative Martinez said, emphasizing the bill’s evidence basis and the planned working group to align DOC, community corrections, prosecutors, public defenders and victims advocates.

Law‑enforcement groups and victims’ advocates voiced strong opposition. Chief Jim Jensen of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police called the bill "a significant policy shift that moves Colorado further away from truth in sentencing," saying expanded earned time could reduce the meaningfulness of judge‑imposed terms. The Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance urged lawmakers to preserve transparency and victims’ ability to plan for release dates.

DOC witnesses and reform advocates said the bill ties earned time to demonstrated engagement in treatment and programming, excludes the most serious crimes covered under Proposition 128, and addresses capacity pressures through the proposed working group. "Earned time under this framework is tied to meaningful engagement and demonstrated progress rather than simple compliance," a DOC official said.

The committee recorded a favorable recommendation; the bill now moves toward committee of the whole consideration.