As states in the Mountain West and beyond debate the merits of private prisons, Colorado is considering that would look at ways to phase them out.
Among other things, the legislation would direct the Colorado Department of Corrections to study 鈥渉ow to end the practice of using private prisons by 2025.鈥�
鈥淚 believe that profit should never be a motive in the prison industry,鈥� said Leslie Herod, the Democratic representative who introduced the bill. 鈥淎nd when we put profit over people, we are moving in the wrong direction.鈥�
Opponents of the bill, such as Rep. Rod Bockenfeld, a Republican, say moving away from private prisons will disproportionately harm rural areas that rely on the facilities for jobs.
鈥淭here isn鈥檛 a whole lot of opportunity in some of those small rural counties that generate jobs,鈥� Bockenfeld said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 going to have a huge impact.鈥�
The language in the bill says the study will consider 鈥渢he economic impacts on affected communities.鈥� It will also look at ways to reduce recidivism and the state鈥檚 prison population as a whole.
The legislation has passed in the House and is now on its way to the Senate.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUER in Salt Lake City, KUNR in Nevada, the O鈥機onnor Center For the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, and KRCC and 萝莉少女 in Colorado.
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