Colorado Code § 17-2-201

State board of parole - duties - definitions
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(1) (a) There is created the state
board of parole, referred to in this part 2 as the "board", which consists of nine members. The
board is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105. The members of the board are appointed
by the governor and confirmed by the senate, and they shall devote their full time to their duties
as members of the board. The members are appointed for three-year terms; except that the terms
shall be staggered so that no more than three members' terms expire in the same year. A member
may serve consecutive terms. The governor may remove a board member for incompetency,
neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, continued failure to use the risk assessment guidelines as
required by section 17-22.5-404, or failure to regularly attend meetings as determined by the
governor. Final conviction of a felony during the term of office of a board member automatically
disqualifies the member from further service on the board. The board is composed of
representatives from multidisciplinary areas of expertise. Two members must have experience in
law enforcement, and one member must have experience in offender supervision, including
parole, probation, or community corrections. Six members must have experience in other
relevant fields. Each member of the board must have a minimum of five years of experience in a
relevant field and knowledge of parole laws and guidelines, rehabilitation, correctional
administration, the functioning of the criminal justice system, issues associated with victims of
crime, the duties of board members, and actuarial risk assessment instruments and other offender
assessment instruments used by the board and the department of corrections. A person who has
been convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or who has any
financial interests that conflict with the duties of a member of the board is ineligible for
appointment.
(b) to (c.2) Repealed.
(d) The governor may appoint a temporary member to replace any member of the board
who becomes temporarily incapacitated. Such temporary member shall not require senate
confirmation unless he serves for a period longer than ninety days and shall serve at the pleasure
of the governor or until the incapacitated member of the parole board is able to resume his
duties. Any temporary member shall assume all the powers and duties of the incapacitated
member. Any such temporary member shall have the same qualifications as a permanent
member as defined in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1). The board may not have more than
two temporary members at any time.
(e) Each board member shall complete a minimum of twenty hours of continuing
education or training every year in order to maintain proficiency and to remain current on
changes in parole laws and developments in the field. Each parole board member shall submit to
the chairperson proof of attendance and details regarding any continuing education or training
attended including the date, place, topic, the length of the training, the trainer's name, and any
agency or organizational affiliation. Members may attend trainings individually or as part of a
specific training offered to the parole board as a whole. The sole remedy for failure to comply
with training and data collection requirements shall be removal of the board member by the
governor, and the failure to comply with training and data collection requirements shall not
create any right for any offender.
(2) The governor shall appoint one of the members of the board as the chairperson of the
board and shall also appoint one of the members as the vice-chairperson. Such appointments are
subject to change by the governor. The chairperson shall be the administrative head of the board.
The chairperson shall assure that board policy and rules and regulations are enforced. The
chairperson shall also assure that proper calendars for hearings are compiled and that members
are assigned to conduct such hearings. The vice-chairperson shall act in the absence of the
chairperson and may fulfill such administrative duties as are delegated by the chairperson.
(3) The chairperson, in addition to other provisions of law, has the following powers and
duties:
(a) To promulgate rules governing the granting and revocation of parole, including
special needs parole pursuant to section 17-22.5-403.5, from correctional facilities where adult
offenders are confined and the fixing of terms of parole and release dates. All rules governing
the granting and revocation of parole promulgated by the chairperson shall be subject to the
approval of a majority of the board and shall be promulgated pursuant to the provisions of
section 24-4-103, C.R.S.
(b) To promulgate rules for the conduct of board members, the procedures for board
hearings, and procedures for the board to comply with state fiscal and procurement regulations.
All administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the chairperson shall be promulgated
pursuant to the provisions of section 24-4-103, C.R.S.
(c) To develop and update a written operational manual for parole board members,
release hearing officers, and administrative hearing officers under contract with the board by
December 31, 2012. The operational manual shall include, but need not be limited to, board
policies and rules, a summary of state laws governing the board, and all administrative release
and revocation guidelines that the parole board is required to use. The chairperson will ensure
that all new parole board members receive training and orientation on the operational manual.
(c.5) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2011, (SB 11-241), ch. 200, p. 833, § 3, effective May
23, 2011.)
(d) To adopt a policy pursuant to which the board may conduct parole hearings, parole
revocation hearings, and board meetings using video teleconferencing technology. At a
minimum, the policy shall identify:
(I) The agenda items, if any, that the board may not consider during video
teleconferences of hearings or meetings;
(II) The correctional facilities that the chairperson determines will be accessible via
video teleconferencing for purposes of conducting hearings or meetings. In identifying such
correctional facilities, the chairperson may include the Colorado mental health institute at Pueblo
for purposes of hearings held at the institute pursuant to subsection (10) of this section.
(e) To ensure that parole board members, release hearing officers, and administrative
hearing officers under contract with the board fulfill the annual training requirements described
in paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of this section and in section 17-2-202.5. The chairperson shall
notify the governor if any board member, release hearing officer, or administrative hearing
officer fails to comply with the training requirements.
(f) To ensure that parole board members, release hearing officers, and administrative
hearing officers under contract with the board are accurately collecting data and information on
his or her decision-making as required by section 17-22.5-404 (6). The chairperson shall notify
the governor immediately if any board member, release hearing officer, or administrative
hearing officer fails to comply with data collection requirements.
(g) To conduct an annual comprehensive review of board functions to identify workload
inefficiencies and to develop strategies or recommendations to address any workload
inefficiencies;
(h) (I) To contract with licensed attorneys to serve as administrative hearing officers to
conduct parole revocation hearings pursuant to rules adopted by the parole board; or
(II) To appoint an administrative law judge pursuant to the provisions of section 24-30-
1003, C.R.S., to conduct parole revocation hearings pursuant to the rules and regulations
promulgated pursuant to this subsection (3). Any references to the board regarding parole
revocation hearings or revocation of parole shall include an administrative law judge appointed
pursuant to this paragraph (h).
(h.1) To contract with qualified individuals to serve as release hearing officers:
(I) To conduct parole application hearings for inmates convicted of class 4, class 5, or
class 6 felonies or level 3 or level 4 drug felonies who have been assessed to be less than high
risk by the Colorado risk assessment scale developed pursuant to section 17-22.5-404 (2)(a), or
hearings pursuant to subsection (19) of this section pursuant to rules adopted by the parole
board; and
(II) To set parole conditions for inmates eligible for release to mandatory parole.
(3.5) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the chairperson shall annually make a
presentation to the judiciary committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any
successor committees, regarding the operations of the board.
(3.7) (a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, an inmate is not eligible for
parole if the inmate:
(I) Has been convicted of a class 1 code of penal discipline violation within the twelve
months preceding his or her next ordinarily scheduled parole hearing; or
(II) Has, within the twelve months preceding his or her next ordinarily scheduled parole
hearing, declined in writing to participate in programs that have been recommended and made
available to the inmate.
(b) An inmate who is described by subparagraph (I) or (II) of paragraph (a) of this
subsection (3.7) may be eligible for parole when the applicable condition has not been in effect
for the preceding twelve months.
(c) If two schedules with different parole application hearing dates apply to the same
inmate, the board shall give effect to the schedule that includes the later parole application
hearing date.
(d) The board shall provide victim notification in accordance with section 24-4.1-302.5,
C.R.S., for all parole application hearings for which the inmate is eligible for parole, as such
eligibility is determined pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(e) As used in this subsection (3.7), "eligible for parole" means an inmate is eligible to
make application to the board for parole and includes an inmate's initial application as well as
any subsequent application for parole review or reconsideration.
(4) The board has the following powers and duties:
(a) To meet as often as necessary every month to consider all applications for parole.
The board may parole any person who is sentenced or committed to a correctional facility when
such person has served his or her minimum sentence, less time allowed for good behavior, and
there is a strong and reasonable probability that the person will not thereafter violate the law and
that release of such person from institutional custody is compatible with the welfare of society. If
the board refuses an application for parole, the board shall reconsider the granting of parole to
such person within one year thereafter, or earlier if the board so chooses, and shall continue to
reconsider the granting of parole each year thereafter until such person is granted parole or until
such person is discharged pursuant to law; except that, if the person applying for parole was
convicted of any class 3 sexual offense described in part 4 of article 3 of title 18, C.R.S., a
habitual criminal offense as defined in section 18-1.3-801 (2.5), C.R.S., or of any offense subject
to the requirements of section 18-1.3-904, C.R.S., the board need only reconsider granting parole
to such person once every three years, until the board grants such person parole or until such
person is discharged pursuant to law, or if the person applying for parole was convicted of a
class 1 or class 2 felony that constitutes a crime of violence, as defined in section 18-1.3-406,
C.R.S., the board need only reconsider granting parole to such person once every five years, until
the board grants such person parole or until such person is discharged pursuant to law.
(b) To conduct hearings on parole revocations as required by section 17-2-103. Such
hearings shall be exempt from the requirements set forth in section 24-4-105, C.R.S. Judicial
review of any revocation of parole shall be held pursuant to section 18-1-410 (1)(h), C.R.S.
(c) To issue, pursuant to rules and regulations, an order of exigent circumstances to place
an offender under parole supervision immediately upon release from a correctional facility when
the board is prevented from complying with publication and interview requirements due to the
application of time served prior to confinement in a correctional facility and the operation of
good time credits;
(d) To carry out the duties prescribed in article 11.5 of title 16, C.R.S.;
(e) To carry out the duties prescribed in article 11.7 of title 16, C.R.S.;
(f) (I) To conduct an initial or subsequent parole release review in lieu of a hearing,
without the presence of the inmate, if:
(A) The application for release is for special needs parole pursuant to section 17-22.5-
403.5, and victim notification is not required pursuant to section 24-4.1-302.5;
(B) A detainer from the United States immigration and customs enforcement agency has
been filed with the department, the inmate meets the criteria for the presumption of parole in
section 17-22.5-404.7, and victim notification is not required pursuant to section 24-4.1-302.5;
(C) The inmate has a statutory discharge date or mandatory release date within six
months after his or her next ordinarily scheduled parole hearing and victim notification is not
required pursuant to section 24-4.1-302.5;
(D) The inmate is assessed to be a low or very low risk on the validated risk assessment
instrument developed pursuant to section 17-22.5-404 (2), the inmate meets readiness criteria
established by the board, and victim notification is not required pursuant to section 24-4.1-302.5;
or
(E) The inmate is subject to subsection (19) of this section.
(II) The board shall notify the inmate's case manager if the board decides to conduct a
parole release review without the presence of the inmate, and the case manager shall notify the
inmate of the board's decision. The case manager may request that the board reconsider and
conduct a hearing with the inmate present.
(4.5) The board may grant, deny, defer, suspend, revoke, or specify or modify the
conditions of any parole for any defendant committed to the department of corrections in a
manner that is in the best interests of the defendant and the public.
(5) (a) As to any person sentenced for conviction of a felony committed prior to July 1,
1979, or of a misdemeanor and as to any person sentenced for conviction of an offense involving
unlawful sexual behavior or for which the factual basis involved an offense involving unlawful
sexual behavior, as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), C.R.S., committed prior to July 1, 1996, or
a class 1 felony and as to any person sentenced as a habitual criminal pursuant to section 18-1.3-
801, C.R.S., for an offense committed prior to July 1, 2003, the board has the sole power to grant
or refuse to grant parole and to fix the condition thereof and has full discretion to set the duration
of the term of parole granted, but in no event shall the term of parole exceed the maximum
sentence imposed upon the inmate by the court or five years, whichever is less; except that the
five-year limitation shall not apply to parole granted pursuant to section 17-22.5-403.7 for a
class 1 felony.
(a.3) (I) Any person sentenced as a habitual criminal pursuant to section 18-1.3-801 (1.5)
or (2) for an offense committed on or after July 1, 2003, shall be subject to the mandatory parole
set forth in section 18-1.3-401 (1)(a)(V)(A), 18-1.3-401 (1)(a)(V)(A.1), or 18-1.3-401.5 for the
class or level of felony of which the person is convicted.
(II) As to any person sentenced as a habitual criminal pursuant to section 18-1.3-801 (1)
or (2.5), C.R.S., for an offense committed on or after July 1, 2003, upon completion of forty
calendar years of incarceration in the department of corrections, the parole board may schedule a
hearing to determine whether the inmate may be released on parole. If the inmate is released on
parole, the life sentence shall continue and shall not be deemed to be discharged until such time
as the parole board may discharge the offender. The offender shall serve at least five years on
parole prior to discharge. If the parole board revokes the parole, the offender shall be returned to
the department of corrections to serve the remainder of the life sentence. The parole board need
only reconsider granting parole to such inmate once every three years.
(a.5) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a.7) of this subsection (5), as to any
person sentenced for conviction of an offense involving unlawful sexual behavior or for which
the factual basis involved an offense involving unlawful sexual behavior as defined in section
16-22-102 (9), C.R.S., committed on or after July 1, 1996, but prior to July 1, 2002, the board
has the sole power to grant or refuse to grant parole and to fix the condition thereof and has full
discretion to set the duration of the term of parole granted, but in no event shall the term of
parole exceed the maximum sentence imposed upon the inmate by the court.
(a.6) As to any person who is sentenced for conviction of an offense committed on or
after July 1, 2002, involving unlawful sexual behavior, as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), or
for conviction of an offense committed on or after July 1, 2002, the underlying factual basis of
which involved unlawful sexual behavior, and who is not subject to the provisions of part 10 of
article 1.3 of title 18, such person shall be subject to the mandatory period of parole set forth in
section 18-1.3-401 (1)(a)(V)(A) or 18-1.3-401 (1)(a)(V)(A.1).
(a.7) As to any person sentenced for conviction of a sex offense pursuant to the
provisions of part 10 of article 1.3 of title 18, C.R.S., committed on or after November 1, 1998,
the board shall grant parole or refuse to grant parole, fix the conditions thereof, and set the
duration of the term of parole granted pursuant to the provisions of part 10 of article 1.3 of title
18, C.R.S.
(b) (I) Conditions imposed for parole may include, but are not limited to, placing the
offender on home detention as defined in section 18-1.3-106 (1.1).
(II) The board shall not revoke parole for lack of payment of parole supervision fees.
(c) (I) As a condition of parole, the board shall order that the offender make restitution to
the victim or victims of his or her conduct if such restitution has been ordered by the court
pursuant to article 18.5 of title 16. The order must require the offender to make restitution within
the period of time that the offender is on parole as specified by the board. In the event that the
defendant does not make full restitution by the date specified by the board, the restitution may be
collected as provided for in article 18.5 of title 16.
(II) Except if the offender is subject to subsection (19) of this section, if the offender
fails to pay the restitution, he or she may be returned to the board and, upon proof of failure to
pay, the board shall:
(A) (Deleted by amendment, L. 96, p. 1779, § 5, effective June 3, 1996.)
(B) Order that the offender continue on parole or extend the period of parole, either
subject to the same condition or modified conditions of parole; or
(C) Revoke the parole and request the sheriff of the county in which the hearing is held
to transport the parolee to a place of confinement designated by the executive director; or
(D) Revoke parole for a period not to exceed one hundred eighty days and request the
sheriff of the county in which the hearing is held to transport the parolee to a community
corrections program pursuant to section 18-1.3-301 (3), C.R.S., a place of confinement within
the department of corrections, or any private facility that is under contract with the department of
corrections; or
(E) Revoke parole for a period not to exceed ninety days and request the sheriff of the
county in which the hearing is held to transport the parolee to the county jail of such county or to
any private facility that is under contract with the department of corrections.
(III) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2000, p. 1043, § 4, effective September 1, 2000.)
(d) If, as a condition of parole pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection (5), a parolee
will be required to attend a postsecondary educational institution as a part of his parole plan, the
board, before granting parole, shall first notify the postsecondary educational institution and the
prosecuting attorney of the parolee's plan and request their comments thereon. The notice shall
include all relevant information pertaining to the person and the crime for which he was
convicted. The postsecondary educational institution and the prosecuting attorney shall reply to
the board in writing within ten days of receipt of the notification or within such other reasonable
time in excess of ten days as specified by the board. The postsecondary educational institution's
reply shall include a statement of whether or not it will accept the parolee as a student.
Acceptance by a state postsecondary educational institution shall be pursuant to section 23-5-
106, C.R.S.
(e) As a condition of parole of every person convicted of the class 2 felony of sexual
assault in the first degree under section 18-3-402 (3), C.R.S., for an offense committed prior to
November 1, 1998, the board shall require that the parolee participate in a program of mental
health counseling or receive appropriate treatment to the extent that the board deems appropriate
to effectuate the successful reintegration of the parolee into the community.
(f) (I) As a condition of every parole, the parolee shall sign a written agreement that
contains the parole conditions deemed appropriate by the board. The conditions must include,
but are not limited to, the following:
(A) That the parolee shall go directly to a place designated by the board upon his release
from the institution to which he has been confined;
(B) That the parolee shall establish a residence of record and shall not change it without
giving prior notification to his or her community parole officer and that the parolee shall not
leave the state without the permission of his or her community parole officer;
(C) That the parolee shall obey all state and federal laws and municipal ordinances,
conduct himself or herself as a law-abiding citizen, and obey and cooperate with his or her
community parole officer;
(D) That the parolee shall permit residential visits by the community parole officer and
allow the community parole officer to make searches of the parolee's person, residence, or
vehicle;
(D.5) That the parolee shall report as directed by the community parole officer. Unless
inconsistent with other conditions imposed by the division of adult parole in the department of
corrections, the division of adult parole shall allow a parolee to meet with the community parole
officer through a telephone call or audio-visual communication technology. Unless inconsistent
with other conditions imposed by the division of adult parole, in directing the parolee to report to
the community parole officer, the community parole officer shall schedule, in good faith, the
meeting at mutually agreeable times with the parolee that do not conflict with the parolee's
essential obligations, including work, education, job training, dependent care, medical
appointments, and other parole requirements.
(E) That the parolee shall not own, possess, or have under his control or in his custody
any firearm or other deadly weapon;
(F) Repealed.
(G) That the parolee shall seek and obtain employment or shall participate in a full-time
educational or vocational program while on parole, unless such requirement is waived by his or
her community parole officer;
(H) That the parolee shall not abuse alcoholic beverages or use illegal drugs while on
parole;
(I) That the parolee shall abide by any other condition the board may determine to be
necessary;
(J) That the parolee shall contact any delegate child support enforcement unit with
whom the parolee may have a child support case to arrange and fulfill a payment plan to pay
current child support, child support arrearages, or child support debt due under a court or
administrative order.
(II) The parole agreement shall also contain a notification to the parolee that, should he
violate any of the said conditions or should his behavior while on parole indicate the potentiality
for criminality or violence, his parole may be subject to revocation.
(III) The provisions of this paragraph (f) shall apply to any person paroled on or after
July 1, 1987, and to any person whose parole conditions are modified by the board on or after
said date.
(g) (I) As a condition of parole, the board shall require any offender convicted of or who
pled guilty or nolo contendere to an offense for which the factual basis involved a sexual offense
as described in part 4 of article 3 of title 18, C.R.S., to submit to chemical testing of a biological
substance sample from the offender to determine the genetic markers thereof and to chemical
testing of his or her saliva to determine the secretor status thereof. Such testing shall occur prior
to the offender's release from incarceration, and the results thereof shall be filed with and
maintained by the Colorado bureau of investigation. The results of such tests shall be furnished
to any law enforcement agency upon request.
(II) The provisions of this paragraph (g) shall apply to any person who is paroled on or
after May 29, 1988, and to any person whose parole conditions are modified by the board on or
after said date.
(III) Any costs of implementing this paragraph (g) shall be derived solely from
appropriations made from moneys in the victims assistance and law enforcement fund created
pursuant to section 24-33.5-506, C.R.S.
(h) Repealed.
(i) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2001, p. 955, § 3, effective July 1, 2001.)
(j) As a condition of parole, the board may order any person who is not otherwise subject
to the provisions of article 22 of title 16, C.R.S., and is convicted of an offense, the underlying
factual basis of which is determined by the department of corrections to involve unlawful sexual
behavior, as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), C.R.S., to register as a sex offender for the period
of the person's parole. Such registration shall be completed as provided in article 22 of title 16,
C.R.S. Within five business days after completion of the period of parole and final discharge
from the legal custody of the department of corrections, the department of corrections shall
notify the Colorado bureau of investigation to remove the person's name from the Colorado sex
offender registry.
(k) As a condition of every grant of parole, the board shall require the offender to
execute a written prior waiver of extradition stating that the offender consents to extradition to
this state and waives all formal procedures incidental to extradition proceedings in the event that
the offender is arrested in another state upon an allegation that the defendant has violated the
terms of his or her parole, and acknowledging that the offender shall not be admitted to bail in
any other state pending extradition to this state.
(5.3) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the possession or use of natural medicine
or natural medicine product, as authorized pursuant to section 18-18-434, article 170 of title 12,
or article 50 of title 44, must not be considered an offense such that its possession or use
constitutes a violation of conditions of parole.
(5.5) (a) As a condition of parole, the board may require every parolee at the parolee's
own expense to submit to random chemical testing of a biological substance sample from the
parolee to determine the presence of drugs or alcohol.
(b) For purposes of this subsection (5.5), "drug" means:
(I) Any "controlled substance" as defined in section 18-18-102 (5), C.R.S.; and
(II) Any "drug" as defined in section 27-80-203 (13), C.R.S., if chemical testing
conducted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (5.5) reveals such drug is present at such a
level as to be considered abusive pursuant to regulations established by the board in consultation
with the department of human services.
(c) (I) If chemical testing is required as a condition of parole, the community parole
officer is responsible for acquiring at random a biological substance sample from a parolee.
(II) At the time the community parole officer acquires a biological substance sample
pursuant to subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (c), the community parole officer shall direct the
parolee to pay the necessary fee for the testing of his or her biological substance sample directly
to the private laboratory under contract with the department, the department of public safety, or a
local governmental agency pursuant to subparagraph (IV) of this paragraph (c).
(III) The community parole officer shall submit the biological substance sample to a
private laboratory under contract with the department, the department of public safety, or a local
governmental agency pursuant to subparagraph (IV) of this paragraph (c) for testing. The
contracting laboratory shall return the results of the tests to the community parole officer within
five working days after receipt of the sample. The results of the test shall be made available by
the community parole officer to the parolee or the parolee's attorney on request.
(IV) The department and the department of public safety and local governmental
agencies for inmates paroled to community corrections facilities shall enter into one or more
contracts with private laboratories for chemical testing under this subsection (5.5). Any private
laboratory that contracts with the department, the department of public safety, or a local
governmental agency shall use appropriate methods to ensure compliance with evidentiary rules
and requirements. Any contract entered into pursuant to this subparagraph (IV) shall specify the
fee to be charged the parolee for chemical biological substance sample testing.
(d) (I) If a chemical test administered pursuant to the requirements of this subsection
(5.5) reflects the presence of drugs or alcohol, the parolee may be required to participate at his
own expense in an appropriate drug or alcohol program, community correctional nonresidential
program, mental health program, or other fee-based or non-fee-based treatment program
approved by the parole board.
(II) (A) Any subsequent chemical testing reflecting the presence of alcohol may be
grounds for arrest of the parolee and the initiation of revocation proceedings at the discretion of
the community parole officer pursuant to section 17-2-103.
(B) A parolee may be arrested and a proceeding for revocation may be initiated pursuant
to the provisions of section 17-2-103 if any subsequent chemical test reflects the presence of
drugs pursuant to subparagraph (I) of paragraph (b) of this subsection (5.5).
(C) A parolee may be arrested and proceedings for revocation may be initiated pursuant
to section 17-2-103 if any subsequent chemical test reveals the presence of drugs as defined in
subparagraph (II) of paragraph (b) of this subsection (5.5) at a level considered to be abusive as
established by the board pursuant to said section.
(e) Repealed.
(f) Section 16-3-309, C.R.S., pertaining to the admissibility of laboratory tests shall
apply to the admissibility of chemical tests required by this subsection (5.5) in parole revocation
hearings conducted pursuant to section 17-2-103.
(g) This subsection (5.5) shall not apply to any parolee to whom article 11.5 of title 16,
C.R.S., applies.
(5.7) If, as a condition of parole, an offender is required to undergo counseling or
treatment, unless the parole board determines that treatment at another facility or with another
person is warranted, the treatment or counseling must be at a facility or with a person:
(a) Approved by the behavioral health administration in the department of human
services if the treatment is for alcohol or drug abuse;
(b) Certified or approved by the sex offender management board, established in section
16-11.7-103, C.R.S., if the offender is a sex offender;
(c) Certified or approved by a domestic violence treatment board, established pursuant to
part 8 of article 6 of title 18, C.R.S., if the offender was convicted of or the underlying factual
basis of the offense included an act of domestic violence as defined in section 18-6-800.3,
C.R.S.; or
(d) Licensed or certified by the division of adult parole in the department of corrections,
the department of regulatory agencies, the behavioral health administration in the department of
human services, the state board of nursing, or the Colorado medical board, whichever is
appropriate for the required treatment or counseling.
(5.8) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (5.7) of this section, if, as a condition
of parole, an offender who was convicted of or pled guilty to an offense involving unlawful
sexual behavior, as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), C.R.S., is required to undergo counseling or
treatment, such treatment or counseling shall be at a facility or with a person listed in subsection
(5.7) of this section and the parole board may not determine treatment at another facility or with
another person is warranted.
(5.9) As a condition of parole of each person convicted of a felony DUI offense
described in section 42-4-1301 (1)(a), (1)(b), or (2)(a), C.R.S., the board shall require the parolee
to use an approved ignition interlock device for the entire period of the person's parole.
(6) The board has the authority at any time after the period of any parole is fixed to
shorten the period thereof or to lengthen said period within the limits specified in subsection (5)
of this section; except that the provisions of this subsection (6) shall not apply to any person
sentenced as a sex offender pursuant to part 10 of article 1.3 of title 18, C.R.S.
(7) The board has exclusive power to conduct all proceedings involving an application
for revocation of parole.
(8) The board has the power, in the performance of official duties, to issue warrants and
subpoenas, to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and other
documents pertinent to the subject of its inquiry, and to administer oaths and take the testimony
of persons under oath. The issuance of a warrant tolls the expiration of a parolee's parole.
(9) (a) (I) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (I) of paragraph (f) of
subsection (4) of this section, whenever an inmate initially applies for parole, the board shall
conduct an interview with the inmate. At such interview at least one member of the board shall
be present. Any final action on an application shall not be required to be made in the presence of
the inmate or parolee, and any such action shall require the concurrence of at least two members
of the board. When the two members do not concur, a third member shall review the record and,
if deemed necessary, interview the applicant and cast the deciding vote. Any subsequent
application for parole shall be considered by the board in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of this section.
(II) The provisions of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a) shall also apply to all
interviews of inmates who apply for parole pursuant to section 17-22.5-303, who were sentenced
for an offense committed on or after July 1, 1979.
(b) When a recommendation has been made before the board for revocation or
modification of a parole, the final disposition of such application shall be reduced to writing. The
parolee shall be advised by the board of the final decision at the conclusion of the hearing or
within a period not to exceed five working days following said hearing; however, a parolee may
waive the five-day notice requirement. A copy of the final order of the board shall be delivered
to the parolee within ten working days after the completion of the hearing.
(c) If the parolee decides to appeal the decision to revoke his parole, such appeal shall be
filed within thirty days of such decision. The parolee shall remain in custody pending the appeal.
Two members of the board, excluding the one who conducted the revocation proceeding, shall
review the record within fifteen working days after the filing of the appeal. They shall notify the
parolee of their decision in writing within ten working days after such decision has been made.
(d) The district attorney or the attorney general may appeal the decision of a member of
the board to two members of the board, excluding the member who conducted the parole
revocation proceeding.
(10) The board shall interview all parole applicants at the institution or in the community
in which the inmate is physically held or through teleconferencing as provided in subsection
(3)(d)(II) of this section. The site location of an interview must not be changed within the thirty
days preceding the interview date without the approval of the board. Any inmate of an adult
correctional institution who has been transferred by executive order or by civil certification or
ordered by a court of law to the Colorado mental health institute at Pueblo may be heard at the
Colorado mental health institute at Pueblo upon an application for parole.
(11) Repealed.
(12) All votes of the board at any hearing or appeal held pursuant to this section shall be
recorded by member and shall be a public record open to inspection and shall be subject to the
provisions of part 3 of article 72 of title 24, C.R.S.
(13) (a) The board may appoint or contract with an attorney to represent a parolee at a
parole revocation hearing only if:
(I) The parolee denies that he violated the condition or conditions of his parole, as set
forth in the complaint;
(II) The parolee is incapable of speaking effectively for himself;
(III) The parolee establishes to the satisfaction of the board that he is indigent; and
(IV) The board, after reviewing the complaint, makes specific findings in writing that
the issues to be resolved are complex and that the parolee requires the assistance of counsel.
(b) Repealed.
(14) The board shall consider the parole of a person whose parole is revoked either for a
technical violation or based on a self-revocation at least once within one hundred eighty days
after the revocation if the person's release date is more than nine months from the date of the
person's revocation; except that a person whose parole is revoked based on a technical violation
that involved the use of a weapon shall not be considered for parole for one year.
(15) Each correctional facility and private contract prison shall make available to the
board hearing room space and video teleconferencing technology that are acceptable to the board
for the purpose of conducting parole hearings within the administrative area of or another
location within the facility acceptable to the board.
(16) The board shall submit to the department of corrections staff involved with making
community corrections transition placement referrals the name and register number of each
inmate the board is recommending for community corrections transition placement. The
department of corrections staff involved with making community corrections transition
placement referrals shall inform the board when the referral has been made or the reason why it
was not submitted.
(17) If an offender completes a community corrections program, the board shall
schedule a parole release hearing within sixty days after the offender's completion of the
program. If the decision is to deny parole, a majority of the full board is required to deny parole
pursuant to this subsection (17).
(18) (a) The parole board shall conduct a file review for each inmate who is listed on the
notifications provided to the board pursuant to section 17-1-119.7 (2)(a)(II) or (2)(a)(III) within
ten days after receiving the notification. The parole board must evaluate the inmate's institutional
behavior, program progress, and appropriateness for release.
(b) If the parole board grants parole to an inmate on the notification list pursuant to
section 17-1-119.7 (2)(a)(II), it may set the release date up to thirty days prior to the inmate's
mandatory release date but not sooner than fifteen days after the file review. The department
shall notify the inmate's parole sponsor to verify his or her willingness and ability to sponsor the
inmate on the amended release date.
(c) If the parole board grants parole to an inmate on the notification list pursuant to
section 17-1-119.7 (2)(a)(III), it may set the release date no sooner than fifteen days after the file
review. The department shall notify the inmate's parole sponsor to verify his or her willingness
and ability to sponsor the inmate on the amended release date.
(19) (a) Except as provided in subsection (19)(b) of this section, if a person has an
approved parole plan, has been assessed to be low or very low risk on the validated risk
assessment scale developed pursuant to section 17-22.5-404 (2), and the parole release
guidelines recommend release, the parole board may deny parole only by a majority vote of the
full parole board.
(b) An inmate is not eligible for release pursuant to subsection (19)(a) of this section if
he or she has had a class I code of penal discipline violation within the previous twelve months
from the date of consideration by the parole board or since incarceration, whichever is shorter;
has been terminated for lack of progress or has declined in writing to participate in programs that
have been recommended and made available to the inmate within the previous twelve months or
since incarceration, whichever is shorter; has been regressed from community corrections or
revoked from parole within the previous one hundred eighty days; is required to be considered
by the full board for release; or has a pending felony charge, detainer, or an extraditable warrant.
(c) If the parole board denies parole to an inmate pursuant to subsection (19)(a) of this
section, the board shall submit to the department the basis for the denial in writing.
(20) The parole board or an individual member of the parole board shall not deny parole
solely because the inmate does not have a recommended parole plan. If the parole board
considers an inmate appropriate for release except for the lack of a recommended parole plan,
the parole board shall delay the release hearing decision or render a conditional release decision
and request that the department submit a recommended parole plan or any other information
requested by the parole board within thirty calendar days.
(21) (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the parole board
shall conduct a parole hearing or the board may review the application and issue a decision
without a hearing, pursuant to section 17-2-201 (4)(f), within ninety days after July 6, 2021, if a
person currently incarcerated has a controlling sentence for a crime enumerated in subsection
(21)(b) of this section.
(b) Eligible offenses are escape, as described in section 18-8-208, or attempt to escape,
as described in section 18-8-208.1, in effect prior to March 6, 2020, if the underlying factual
basis satisfies the elements of the crime of unauthorized absence or attempted unauthorized
absence, as described in section 18-8-208.2 (2)(a) or (2)(b).
(c) An inmate is not eligible for expedited parole consideration under this subsection
(21) if:
(I) The inmate is not currently at or past his or her parole eligibility date; or
(II) The inmate is ineligible for release to parole pursuant to subsection (3.7)(a) of this
section.
(d) The department shall provide victim notification as required by section 24-4.1-303
(14)(d).

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