Colorado § 18-1.3-1006 - Release from incarceration - parole - conditions.

§ 18-1.3-1006. Release from incarceration - parole - conditions.

(1) (a) On completion of the minimum period of incarceration specified in a sex offender's indeterminate sentence, less any earned time credited to the sex offender pursuant to section 17-22.5-405, C.R.S., the parole board shall schedule a hearing to determine whether the sex offender may be released on parole. In determining whether to release the sex offender on parole, the parole board shall determine whether the sex offender has successfully progressed in treatment and would not pose an undue threat to the community if released under appropriate treatment and monitoring requirements and whether there is a strong and reasonable probability that the person will not thereafter violate the law. The department shall make recommendations to the parole board concerning whether the sex offender should be released on parole and the level of treatment and monitoring that should be imposed as a condition of parole. The recommendation shall be based on the criteria established by the management board pursuant to section 18-1.3-1009.

(b) If a sex offender is released on parole pursuant to this section, the sex offender's sentence to incarceration shall continue and shall not be deemed discharged until such time as the parole board may discharge the sex offender from parole pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. The period of parole for any sex offender convicted of a class 4 felony shall be an indeterminate term of at least ten years and a maximum of the remainder of the sex offender's natural life. The period of parole for any sex offender convicted of a class 2 or 3 felony shall be an indeterminate term of at least twenty years and a maximum of the remainder of the sex offender's natural life.

(c) If the parole board does not release the sex offender on parole pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), the parole board shall review such denial pursuant to the time periods set forth in section 17-2-201 (4)(a), C.R.S. At each review, the department shall make recommendations, based on the criteria established by the management board pursuant to section 18-1.3-1009, concerning whether the sex offender should be released on parole.

(2) (a) As a condition of release on parole pursuant to this section, a sex offender shall participate in the intensive supervision parole program created by the department pursuant to section 18-1.3-1005. Participation in the intensive supervision parole program shall continue until the sex offender can demonstrate that he or she has successfully progressed in treatment and would not pose an undue threat to the community if paroled to a lower level of supervision, at which time the sex offender's community parole officer may petition the parole board for a reduction in the sex offender's level of supervision. The sex offender's community parole officer and treatment provider shall make recommendations to the parole board concerning whether the sex offender has met the requirements specified in this subsection (2) such that the level of parole supervision should be reduced. The recommendations shall be based on the criteria established by the management board pursuant to section 18-1.3-1009.

(b) Following reduction in a sex offender's level of parole supervision pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), the sex offender's community parole officer may return the sex offender to the intensive supervision parole program if the community parole officer determines that an increased level of supervision is necessary to protect the public safety. The community parole officer shall notify the parole board as soon as possible after returning the sex offender to the intensive supervision parole program. To subsequently reduce the sex offender's level of supervision, the community parole officer may petition the parole board as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2).

(3) (a) On completion of twenty years on parole for any sex offender convicted of a class 2 or 3 felony or on completion of ten years of parole for any sex offender convicted of a class 4 felony, the parole board shall schedule a hearing to determine whether the sex offender may be discharged from parole. In determining whether to discharge the sex offender from parole, the parole board shall determine whether the sex offender has successfully progressed in treatment and would not pose an undue threat to the community if allowed to live in the community without treatment or supervision. The sex offender's community parole officer and treatment provider shall make recommendations to the parole board concerning whether the sex offender has met the requirements specified in this subsection (3) such that the sex offender should be discharged from parole. The recommendations shall be based on the criteria established by the management board pursuant to section 18-1.3-1009.

(b) If the parole board does not discharge the sex offender from parole pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (3), the parole board shall review such denial at least once every three years until it determines that the sex offender meets the criteria for discharge specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3). At each review, the sex offender's community parole officer and treatment provider shall make recommendations, based on the criteria established by the management board pursuant to section 18-1.3-1009, concerning whether the sex offender should be discharged.

(4) In determining whether to release a sex offender on parole, reduce the level of supervision, or discharge a sex offender from parole pursuant to this section, the parole board shall consider the recommendations of the department and the sex offender's community parole officer and treatment provider. If the parole board chooses not to follow the recommendations made, it shall make findings on the record in support of its decision.

Source: L. 2002: Entire article added with relocations, p. 1438, § 2, effective October 1. L. 2003: (1)(a) amended, p. 975, § 11, effective April 17. L. 2008: (2), (3), and (4) amended, p. 660, §14, effective April 25. L. 2015: (1)(c) amended, (HB 15-1122), ch. 37, p. 91, § 6, effective March 20.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 16-13-806 as it existed prior to 2002.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 15-1122, see section 1 of chapter 37, Session Laws of Colorado 2015.

ANNOTATION

Law reviews. For article, "Adult Parole in Colorado: An Overview", see 44 Colo. Law. 37 (May 2015).

Indeterminate sentencing for sex offenders does not violate procedural due process. The opportunities in § 18-1.3-1006 (1) satisfy continuing due process requirements by providing an adequate continuing opportunity to be heard on the issue of release after a sentence has been imposed. People v. Oglethorpe, 87 P.3d 129 (Colo. App. 2003).

Plain language of SOLSA does not prohibit consideration of factors or circumstances beyond the three enumerated in subsection (1)(a), and permits a parole board to consider additional factors, such as maturity and rehabilitation, when determining whether to parole a sex offender. SOLSA does not require parole boards to consider demonstrated maturity, although it is permitted. However, SOLSA's three enumerated factors require parole boards to consider rehabilitation. Godinez v. Williams, 2024 CO 14, 544 P.3d 1233.