Colorado Will Review Parole Policies, Hickenlooper Says

<p>(Vic Vela/CPR News)</p>
<p>Gov. John Hickenlooper speaks at the Colorado Capitol on Thursday, March 24, 2016.</p>
Photo: Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper March 2016
Gov. John Hickenlooper speaks at the Colorado Capitol on Thursday, March 24, 2016.

The move comes on the heels of a Denver Post investigation that showed some parolees who were released committed serious crime. The Post found one parolee who was released is now accused of murder.

That’s after recent state policy changes aimed at reducing the state’s prison population. The changes have done that, and reduced recidivism rates. But some parolees have gotten in trouble with the law again.

At a Capitol news conference, Hickenlooper said his administration is working to aggressively review prison release polices.

“Our goal clearly, and I’ll be very clear, we want to make sure any changes that occur are going to make our system safer,” Hickenlooper said.

To try to reduce the prison population, a law from last year changed how parolees are sent back to prison for violations like curfew and failed drug tests. Also, the Department of Corrections made its own changes to its parole system.