Possible solutions to crowded Colorado prisons
Spike CO
Possible solutions to crowded Colorado prisons
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Posted: Jan 27, 2026 / 06:32 PM MST
Updated: Jan 27, 2026 / 06:56 PM MST
(COLORADO) — Colorado’s prison system is facing a critical capacity issue, with only 161 funded general population beds remaining and a projected prison population exceeding 16,000 this year.
The Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) can currently house about 15,000 inmates, but a state report warns of a looming overcrowding crisis as the population is expected to rise. With an almost 3% vacancy rate and 722 convicted inmates currently awaiting transfer from county jails, officials are exploring options to address the situation.
The CDOC has expressed concern over the potential living conditions for inmates if the prison population continues to grow.
One option being considered to accommodate the growing number of inmates includes the use of sled beds, which slide in and out of existing bunk beds. However, Mark Fairbairn, director of the CDOC, emphasized that operationalizing this solution is not feasible given the current circumstances.
Moses “Andre” Stancil, director of the CDOC, noted the impact of the backlog in county jails: “We can no longer arrest people and house them in county jails. That impacts communities.” This situation highlights the urgent need for solutions to the overcrowding issue.
Staffing shortages compounded by inflation are major challenges for the Colorado corrections system. As Michael Dell, a volunteer with Colorado CURE, pointed out, “Tensions do increase. I mean, you’re overwhelming a basic facility,” indicating the stress on both staff and inmates under crowded conditions.
Additionally, Dell highlighted concerns regarding access to timely medical care for inmates, stating that “it takes time to get in there. And there are basically times where you don’t get follow-ups on the situation.”
Despite advocacy from community organizations urging parole boards to facilitate earlier releases, the decision lies beyond the CDOC’s control.
“They cannot release people of their own volition just to lower the standards,” Dell said. “That has to be done by the parole board and then community corrections as an alternative.”
Lawmakers are currently debating potential strategies for addressing the overcrowding. Further discussions on how to expand capacity or manage the existing population are expected as the situation develops.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by FOX21. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by FOX21 staff before being published.
