State Sen. James Coleman speaks at an event hosted by Colorado’s Black Democratic Legislative Caucus in Denver, Jan. 25, 2023. Coleman is sponsoring a bill that would provide cash assistance to people released from incarceration. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline)
A Colorado bill aims to provide direct cash assistance for daily expenses to support people recently released from incarceration, with the ultimate goal of reducing recidivism.
Denver Democratic state Sens. James Coleman and Julie Gonzales, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, sponsored the bill , which would create a pilot program to provide up to $3,000 for basic life expenses to people who enroll in workforce training programs after incarceration in a state facility.
If the bill becomes law, the Colorado Department of Corrections would contract with an outside organization to administer the program, providing participants with funding for eligible expenses. Participants would also need to work with reentry service providers throughout the state that already offer workforce training programs.