The 2026 legislative There is no public comment — but showing up matters. It sends a powerful signal to JBC members that Coloradans are paying attention and expect responsible, transparent decisions, not a rubber stamp for rampant prison expansion.
At a high level, here is what DOC is seeking this session:
Between this supplemental budget request for Fiscal Year 25-26 and the budget increases for Fiscal Year 26-27, DOC is requesting $83 Million in new spending including funding to open 788 new prison beds (on top of the 153 private prison beds they opened in September, bringing the total to 941 new beds). Additionally, they want to give private prisons a more lucrative contract, amounting to a roughly 20% rate increase.
And a letter from the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting to the JBC on January 9th says that “We are currently identifying any existing facilities that may be available for purchase or lease…” This means we can expect DOC to ask for hundreds of millions of dollars more for a new prison facility in the near future.
At the same time, Colorado faces a critical budget shortage.
Programs facing deep cuts this session include early childhood education, higher education, Medicaid, and Medicare. Every dollar spent expanding prisons is a dollar diverted from education, healthcare, and community-based investments that reduce recidivism and strengthen public safety. The decision on whether to expand prisons or ask DOC to manage their prison population more efficiently doesn't exist in a vaccuum. These tradeoffs carry real consequences, particularly for the next generation. Will Colorado’s kids inherit educational opportunity, clean air and water, and access to quality health care—or concrete walls and barbed wire?
DOC is framing prison expansion as inevitable. It is not.
We need smarter solutions, clear accountability and transparency, and a Department of Corrections that is focused on effective management and responsible use of public funds.
We are so grateful to be in this fight with you.
In solidarity,
CCJRC & the No More Prisons Coalition
