Colorado's 2025 Recidivism and Desistance Outcomes Project

[Spike CO]

Colorado's 2025 Recidivism and Desistance Outcomes Project

refers to legislative efforts, primarily through Senate Bill 24-029, to create a standardized recidivism definition and explore broader measures (desistance) for criminal justice success, moving beyond just new convictions to include well-being, employment, housing, and education, with a key report due July 1, 2025, from a working group tasked with developing these alternative metrics for a more holistic view of post-release outcomes. 

Key Components of the Initiative:

• Standardized Recidivism Definition: A working group was tasked with defining recidivism by January 15, 2025, to include new deferred agreements, adjudications, or convictions for felonies/misdemeanors within a specified timeframe, to be used by state entities starting July 1, 2025.
• Desistance & Alternative Metrics: The project emphasizes moving beyond recidivism to measure "desistance" (stopping criminal behavior) by assessing life domains like employment, housing, mental health, and community engagement, aligning with National Academies recommendations.
• Working Group: The Alternative Metrics Working Group (AMWG) was formed to develop these broader metrics, with members appointed by late 2024 and meetings starting early 2025.
• Reporting: The AMWG must submit a report with recommendations by July 1, 2025, to legislative committees.
• Related Efforts: The Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) also has a specific "2025 Recidivism and Desistance Outcomes Project" to assess outcomes for sex offenders. 

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Goals:

• To better understand criminal justice system performance by capturing more than just new crimes.
• To identify effective interventions that support successful reintegration and reduce recidivism. 

In essence, Colorado is working to redefine success in its criminal justice system, broadening the focus from just preventing re-arrests to fostering overall community well-being and desistance.

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The attached 2025 report re-affirms the known low recidivism rate amongst those convicted of a sexual offense and especially amongst those who receive treatment.

Link to the report is shown below in case you cannot download the attached copy.

https://dcj.colorado.gov/sites/dcj/files/documents/2025_SOMB%20Recidivism%20and%20Desistance%20Project.pdf