\u201cWe have to give these prisoners the tools to reintegrate into society,\u201d said District Attorney Will Furse. \u201cIf we don\u2019t, then we\u2019re just setting them up to fail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last week, Gov. John Hickenlooper called for a $10 million proposal to increase spending on parole operations. The measure could not only place more parole officers on the streets, but it could also provide more treatment services for parolees.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople struggle, a lot, with reintegration from prison or even county jail,\u201d Furse said. \u201cThat is the biggest barrier to their success and ability to maintain a crime-free lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n
In politics today, there\u2019s not much bipartisanship, especially when Democrats, like the governor, propose additional spending measures. A Republican, Furse believes law enforcement should not be bound by political ideologies, stating he supports the governor\u2019s call to increase spending for parolees.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look at this from a criminal justice perspective,\u201d Furse explained. \u201cI see there to be a need to rehabilitate and reintegrate people who are being released from prison. If that means increased spending, then so be it. I think it\u2019s a legitimate use of taxpayer dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furse also pointed out that recidivism is a national problem, citing that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder recently announced $62 million in grants were made available to address the issue on a national scale. More than 100 Second Chance Act grants have been awarded.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the course of my career, I\u2019ve seen just how important \u2013 and powerful \u2013 re-entry programs can be,\u201d said Holder. \u201cI learned how this cycle weakens communities, tears families apart and destroys individual lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the last decade, state judicial records indicate the total number of new adult probation clients has increased nearly 60 percent in the 22nd Judicial District, which includes Montezuma and Dolores counties. A total of 241 new adult probation clients were reported for fiscal year 2013, compared to 142 new probation cases in 2003.<\/p>\n
The Denver Post has uncovered 29 murder cases since 2002 in which parolees violated conditions of their release or committed a crime and were allowed to remain free. Furse said the 22nd Judicial District is not immune.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis district is no stranger to people on parole or probation that commit crimes of violence,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s not uncommon to see violent acts committed by those who are on probation or parole, and that only emphasizes or justifies the need for increased attention to those folks.\u201d<\/p>\n