Author: Michael Dougherty
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GUEST OPINION: Public safety, justice, and mental health
The path to safer communities in Colorado requires drastic improvements in the treatment of those with significant mental health disorders. Compared with other states, Colorado provides woefully inadequate behavioral health treatment for people in need. That unfortunate reality is reflected in many cases in our criminal justice system. As district attorneys representing a diverse population…
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GUEST COLUMN: Profit has no place in the criminal justice system
Private companies are profiting off the imprisonment of almost four thousand Coloradans. While 14,000 inmates are currently being held at Colorado Department of Corrections’ (CDOC) 22 state correctional facilities, approximately 20 percent of our prison population are being held at three private prisons. These three facilities are owned by large, for-profit corporations. By allowing profit…