Sentences - youthful offenders - powers and duties of district court - authorization for youthful offender system - powers and duties of department of corrections - youthful offender system study - report - legislative declaration - definitions
C.R.S. § 18-1.3-407
in effect18-1.3-407. Sentences - youthful offenders - powers and duties of district court - authorization for youthful offender system - powers and duties of department of corrections - youthful offender system study - report - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) (a) It is the intent of the general assembly that the youthful offender system established pursuant to this section shall benefit the state by providing as a sentencing option for certain youthful offenders a controlled and regimented environment that affirms dignity of self and others, promotes the value of work and self-discipline, and develops useful skills and abilities through enriched programming.
(b) It is the further intent of the general assembly in enacting this section that female and male offenders who are eligible for sentencing to the youthful offender system pursuant to section 18-1.3-407.5 or section 19-2.5-801 (5) or 19-2.5-802 (1)(d)(I)(B) receive equitable treatment in sentencing, particularly in regard to the option of being sentenced to the youthful offender system. Accordingly, it is the general assembly's intent that the department of corrections take necessary measures to establish separate housing for female and male offenders who are sentenced to the youthful offender system without compromising the equitable treatment of either.
(c) (I) It is the intent of the general assembly that offenders sentenced to the youthful offender system be housed and serve their sentences in a facility specifically designed and programmed for the youthful offender system and that offenders so sentenced be housed separate from and not brought into daily physical contact with inmates twenty-five years of age or older sentenced to the department of corrections who have not been sentenced to the youthful offender system, except as specifically provided under subsection (5) of this section.
(II) For the purposes of public safety, academic achievement, rehabilitation, the development of pro-social behavior, or reentry planning for youthful offenders, the executive director or his or her designee may transfer any offender age twenty-four years or younger and sentenced to the department of corrections into and out of the youthful offender system at his or her discretion.
(III) The facility that houses offenders sentenced to the youthful offender system shall be limited to two hundred fifty-six beds.
(IV) (A) The department of corrections shall develop policies and procedures for decision-making regarding the transfer of any offender not sentenced to the youthful offender system into the youthful offender system in order to ensure that the goals of the youthful offender system, as described in this section; the operations of the rehabilitative program within the youthful offender system; and the delivery of services to those offenders directly sentenced to the youthful offender system are not compromised in any way by the comingled population.
(B) The department of corrections shall include in its annual report to the judiciary committees of the house of representatives and senate, or to any successor committees, pursuant to section 2-7-203, C.R.S., and in any annual youthful offender system report produced by the department, information regarding the policies and procedures developed by the department pursuant to sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (IV), the characteristics of the population of youthful offenders transferred pursuant to this paragraph (c), and the impact, if any, of transferred inmates on any youthful offender system programming or department of corrections programming.
(C) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, the department of corrections shall not initiate any transfers of inmates to the youthful offender system until the department has developed the policies and procedures described in sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (IV).
sferred inmates on any youthful offender system programming or department of corrections programming.
(C) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, the department of corrections shall not initiate any transfers of inmates to the youthful offender system until the department has developed the policies and procedures described in sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (IV).
(d) It is the intent of the general assembly that offenders sentenced to the youthful offender system be sentenced as adults and be subject to all laws and department of corrections rules, regulations, and standards pertaining to adult inmates, except as otherwise provided in this section.
(2) (a) (I) A juvenile may be sentenced to the youthful offender system created pursuant to this section under the circumstances set forth in section 19-2.5-801 (5)(a)(II) or 19-2.5-802 (1)(d)(I)(B). A young adult offender may be sentenced to the youthful offender system created pursuant to this section under the circumstances set forth in section 18-1.3-407.5. In order to sentence a juvenile or young adult offender to the youthful offender system, the court shall first impose upon such person a sentence to the department of corrections in accordance with section 18-1.3-401. The court shall thereafter suspend such sentence conditioned on completion of a sentence to the youthful offender system, including a period of community supervision. The court shall impose any such sentence to the youthful offender system for a determinate period of not fewer than two years nor more than six years; except that a juvenile or young adult offender convicted of a class 2 felony may be sentenced for a determinate period of up to seven years. In imposing the sentence, the court shall grant authority to the department of corrections to place the offender under a period of community supervision for a period of not fewer than six months and up to twelve months any time after the date on which the offender has twelve months remaining to complete the determinate sentence. The court may award an offender sentenced to the youthful offender system credit for presentence confinement; except that such credit shall not reduce the offender's actual time served in the youthful offender system to fewer than two years. The court shall have a presentence investigation conducted before sentencing a juvenile or young adult offender pursuant to this section. Upon the request of either the prosecution or the defense, the presentence report must include a determination by the warden of the youthful offender system whether the offender is acceptable for sentencing to the youthful offender system. When making a determination, the warden shall consider the nature and circumstances of the crime; the age, circumstances, and criminal history of the offender; the available bed space in the youthful offender system; and any other appropriate considerations.
(II) Upon the successful completion of the determinate sentence to the youthful offender system, including the mandatory period of community supervision, the suspended sentence pursuant to section 18-1.3-401 shall have been completed. Whenever an offender is returned to the district court for revocation pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, the court shall impose the original sentence following the revocation of the sentence to the youthful offender system, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of this section.
(III) For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(A) "Juvenile" means a person who is under eighteen years of age when the crime is committed and under twenty-one years of age at the time of sentencing pursuant to this section.
(B) "Young adult offender" means a person who is at least eighteen years of age but under twenty years of age when the crime is committed and under twenty-one years of age at the time of sentencing pursuant to this section.
"Juvenile" means a person who is under eighteen years of age when the crime is committed and under twenty-one years of age at the time of sentencing pursuant to this section.
(B) "Young adult offender" means a person who is at least eighteen years of age but under twenty years of age when the crime is committed and under twenty-one years of age at the time of sentencing pursuant to this section.
(C) "Youthful offender" or "offender" means a juvenile or a young adult offender who has been sentenced to the youthful offender system or who is eligible for sentencing to the youthful offender system.
(IV) As used in this section, "community supervision" shall not be construed to mean a community corrections program, as defined in section 17-27-102, C.R.S.
(2) (a.5) Repealed.
(b) Article 22.5 of title 17, concerning time credits, applies to any person sentenced to the youthful offender system; except that an offender whose sentence to the youthful offender system is revoked pursuant to subsection (5) of this section may receive one day of credit against the suspended sentence imposed by the court following revocation of the sentence to the youthful offender system for each day the offender served in the youthful offender system, excluding any period of time during which the offender was under community supervision but including credit for presentence confinement authorized pursuant to section 18-1.3-405.
(2.1) (a) As originally enacted, this section applied only to offenses committed by juveniles on or after September 13, 1993. For purposes of extending the availability of sentencing options, a juvenile who meets the criteria set forth in section 19-2.5-801 (5)(a)(II) may be sentenced to the youthful offender system pursuant to this section under the following circumstances:
(I) The juvenile is sentenced on or after June 3, 1994, for an offense committed prior to, on, or after September 13, 1993;
(II) The juvenile committed an offense prior to September 13, 1993, and was sentenced for the offense on or after September 13, 1993, but prior to June 3, 1994. Such a juvenile may only be resentenced to the youthful offender system if a court, in its discretion, so orders in response to a motion filed in accordance with rule 35 of the Colorado rules of criminal procedure.
(b) A juvenile who committed an offense prior to September 13, 1993, and who was sentenced prior to September 13, 1993, shall not be eligible to be sentenced to the youthful offender system.
(c) A juvenile described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.1) may be sentenced pursuant to this section only if the juvenile meets the age requirement set forth in subparagraph (III) of paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of this section.
(3) The department of corrections shall develop and implement a youthful offender system for offenders sentenced in accordance with subsection (2) of this section. The youthful offender system shall be under the direction and control of the executive director of the department of corrections. The youthful offender system shall be based on the following principles:
(a) The system should provide for teaching offenders self-discipline by providing clear consequences for inappropriate behavior;
(b) The system should include a daily regimen that involves offenders in physical training, self-discipline exercises, educational and work programs, and meaningful interaction, with a component for a tiered system for swift and strict discipline for noncompliance;
(c) The system should use staff models and mentors to promote within an offender the development of socially accepted attitudes and behaviors;
(d) The system should provide offenders with instruction on problem-solving skills and should incorporate methods to reinforce the use of cognitive behavior strategies that change offenders' orientation toward criminal thinking and behavior;
oncompliance;
(c) The system should use staff models and mentors to promote within an offender the development of socially accepted attitudes and behaviors;
(d) The system should provide offenders with instruction on problem-solving skills and should incorporate methods to reinforce the use of cognitive behavior strategies that change offenders' orientation toward criminal thinking and behavior;
(e) The system should promote among offenders the creation and development of new group cultures which result in a transition to prosocial behavior; and
(f) The system should provide offenders the opportunity to gradually reenter the community while demonstrating the capacity for self-discipline and the attainment of respect for the community.
(3.3) The youthful offender system consists of the following components, and the department of corrections has the authority described in this subsection (3.3) in connection with the administration of the components:
(a) An intake, diagnostic, and orientation phase;
(b) Phase I, during which time a range of core programs, supplementary activities, and educational and prevocational programs and services are provided to offenders;
(c) (I) Phase II, which may be administered during the last three to six months of the period of institutional confinement and during which time the department of corrections is authorized to transfer an offender to a twenty-four-hour custody residential program that serves youthful offenders.
(II) In connection with the component described in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (c), the department of corrections is authorized to operate or to contract with a prerelease residential program for those sentenced as youthful offenders. The department of corrections or the contract provider shall provide for twenty-four-hour custody of offenders in phase II.
(d) (I) Phase III, which is to be administered for the period of community supervision that remains after the completion of phase II and during which the offender is monitored during reintegration into society.
(II) After the department determines appropriate phase III placement, the department shall notify, no later than thirty days prior to placement, the local law enforcement agency for the jurisdiction in which the offender shall be placed for phase III. The notice shall include the offender's name, the crime committed by the offender, the disposition of the offender's case, and the basis for the placement. The local law enforcement agency may appeal the placement, if the placement is in a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction where the offender was convicted, it may appeal to the executive director of the department at least fifteen days prior to the placement. Except that the local law enforcement agency may not appeal if the placement is in the jurisdiction where the offender was residing at the time the offense was committed. If there is an appeal, after considering the department's basis for placement and the local law enforcement's basis for appeal, the executive director shall make the final determination of the placement.
(3.4) In addition to the powers granted to the department of corrections in subsection (3.3) of this section, the department of corrections may:
(a) Transfer a youthful offender to an appropriate facility for the purpose of accomplishing the offender's redirection goals, as long as the transfer does not jeopardize the safety and welfare of the offender;
(b) Operate an emancipation program and provide other support or monitoring services and residential placement for offenders participating in phase II and phase III under the youthful offender system for whom family reintegration poses difficulties. The department of corrections shall provide reintegration support services to an offender placed in an emancipation house.
d welfare of the offender;
(b) Operate an emancipation program and provide other support or monitoring services and residential placement for offenders participating in phase II and phase III under the youthful offender system for whom family reintegration poses difficulties. The department of corrections shall provide reintegration support services to an offender placed in an emancipation house.
(c) Contract with any public or private entity, including but not limited to a school district, for provision or certification of educational services. Offenders receiving educational services or diplomas from a school district under an agreement entered into pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall not be included in computing the school district's student performance on statewide assessments pursuant to section 22-7-1006.3, C.R.S., or the school district's levels of attainment of the performance indicators pursuant to article 11 of title 22, C.R.S.
(3.5) The executive director of the department of corrections or the executive director's designee has final approval on the hiring and transferring of staff for the youthful offender system. In staffing the youthful offender system, the executive director or the executive director's designee shall select persons who are trained in the treatment of youthful offenders or will be trained in the treatment of youthful offenders, are trained to act as role models and mentors pursuant to subsection (3)(c) of this section, and are best equipped to enable the youthful offender system to meet the principles specified in subsection (3) of this section. All staff members must be trained in the treatment of youthful offenders within forty-five days after their first day at the youthful offender system. Prior to receiving this training, a staff member shall not work directly with juveniles and must be supervised by a trained staff member when working with any young adult offenders at the youthful offender system. The executive director or the executive director's designee shall make a recommendation to the department of personnel regarding the classification of positions with the youthful offender system, taking into account the level of education and training required for such positions.
(4) The youthful offender system shall provide for community supervision which shall consist of highly structured surveillance and monitoring and educational and treatment programs. Community supervision shall be administered by the department of corrections, and revocation of the inmate's supervision status shall be subject to the provisions of subsections (2) and (5) of this section.
(4.3) The youthful offender system shall provide sex offender treatment services for an offender who is sentenced to the youthful offender system and who has a history of committing a sex offense as defined in section 16-11.7-102 (3), C.R.S., or who has a history of committing any other offense, the underlying factual basis of which includes a sex offense. Prior to July 1, 2002, the sex offender treatment services provided pursuant to this subsection (4.3) shall comply with any existing national standards for juvenile sex offender treatment. On and after July 1, 2002, the sex offender treatment services provided pursuant to this subsection (4.3) shall comply with the sex offender treatment standards adopted by the sex offender management board pursuant to section 16-11.7-103, C.R.S.
ender treatment services provided pursuant to this subsection (4.3) shall comply with any existing national standards for juvenile sex offender treatment. On and after July 1, 2002, the sex offender treatment services provided pursuant to this subsection (4.3) shall comply with the sex offender treatment standards adopted by the sex offender management board pursuant to section 16-11.7-103, C.R.S.
(4.5) The consent of the parent, parents, or legal guardian of an offender under the age of eighteen years who has been sentenced to the youthful offender system pursuant to this section is not necessary in order to authorize hospital, medical, mental health, dental, emergency health, or emergency surgical care. In addition, neither the department nor any hospital, physician, surgeon, mental health-care provider, dentist, trained emergency health-care provider, or agent or employee thereof who, in good faith, relies on such a minor offender's consent is liable for civil damages for failure to secure the consent of such an offender's parent, parents, or legal guardian prior to rendering such care. The parent, parents, or legal guardian of a minor offender described in this subsection (4.5) is not liable to pay the charges for the care provided the minor on said minor's consent.
(5) (a) Except as otherwise provided by paragraph (b) of this subsection (5), the department of corrections shall implement a procedure for the transfer of an offender to another facility when an offender in the system poses a danger to himself or herself or others. The executive director of the department of corrections shall review any transfer determination by the department prior to the actual transfer of an inmate, including a transfer back to the district court for revocation of the sentence to the youthful offender system. A transfer pursuant to this paragraph (a) shall be limited to a period not to exceed sixty days, at which time the offender shall be returned to the youthful offender facility to complete his or her sentence or returned to the district court for revocation of the sentence to the youthful offender system. In no case shall an offender initially sentenced to the youthful offender system be held in isolation or segregation or in an adult facility for longer than sixty consecutive days without action by the sentencing court.
(b) (I) An offender who is thought to have a behavioral or mental health disorder or an intellectual and developmental disability by a mental health clinician, as defined by regulation of the department of corrections, may be transferred to another facility for a period not to exceed sixty days for diagnostic validation of said disorder or disability. At the conclusion of the sixty-day period, the psychiatrists or other appropriate professionals conducting the diagnosis shall forward to the executive director of the department of corrections their findings, which at a minimum must include a statement of whether the offender has the ability to withstand the rigors of the youthful offender system. If the diagnosis determines that the offender is incapable of completing his or her sentence to the youthful offender system due to a behavioral or mental health disorder or an intellectual and developmental disability, the executive director shall forward such determination to the sentencing court. Based on the determination, the sentencing court shall review the offender's sentence to the youthful offender system and may:
(A) Impose the offender's original sentence to the department of corrections; or
(B) Reconsider and reduce the offender's sentence to the department of corrections in consideration of the offender's behavioral or mental health disorder or intellectual and developmental disability.
(II) An offender who is resentenced pursuant to this subsection (5)(b) shall continue to be treated as an adult for purposes of sentencing and shall not be sentenced pursuant to article 2.5 of title 19.
Reconsider and reduce the offender's sentence to the department of corrections in consideration of the offender's behavioral or mental health disorder or intellectual and developmental disability.
(II) An offender who is resentenced pursuant to this subsection (5)(b) shall continue to be treated as an adult for purposes of sentencing and shall not be sentenced pursuant to article 2.5 of title 19.
(III) In no event shall the sentencing court, after reviewing the offender's sentence to the youthful offender system pursuant to this subsection (5)(b), increase the offender's sentence to the department of corrections due to the offender's diagnosis of a behavioral or mental health disorder or determination of an intellectual and developmental disability.
(IV) Any offender who is diagnosed as having a behavioral or mental health disorder or determined to have an intellectual and developmental disability and is therefore incapable of completing his or her sentence to the youthful offender system may be housed in any department of corrections facility deemed appropriate by the executive director or transferred in accordance with procedures set forth in section 17-23-101 pending action by the sentencing court with regard to the offender's sentence.
(c) The department of corrections shall implement a procedure for returning offenders who cannot successfully complete the sentence to the youthful offender system, or who fail to comply with the terms or conditions of the youthful offender system, to the district court. An offender returned to the district court pursuant to subsection (5)(a) of this section or because he or she cannot successfully complete the sentence to the youthful offender system for reasons other than a behavioral or mental health disorder or an intellectual and developmental disability, or because he or she fails to comply with the terms or conditions of the youthful offender system, shall receive imposition of the original sentence to the department of corrections. After the executive director of the department upholds the department's decision, the offender may be held in any correctional facility deemed appropriate by the executive director; except that an offender who cannot successfully complete the sentence to the youthful offender system for reasons other than a behavioral or mental health disorder or an intellectual and developmental disability, or because he or she fails to comply with the terms or conditions of the youthful offender system, shall be transferred, within thirty-five days after the executive director upholds the department's decision, to a county jail for holding prior to resentencing. The department shall notify the district attorney of record, and the district attorney of record shall be responsible for seeking the revocation or review of the offender's sentence and the imposition of the original sentence or modification of the original sentence pursuant to subsection (5)(b)(I)(B) of this section. The district court shall review the offender's sentence within one hundred twenty-six days after notification to the district attorney of record by the department of corrections that the offender is not able to complete the sentence to the youthful offender system or fails to comply with the terms or conditions of the youthful offender system.
e pursuant to subsection (5)(b)(I)(B) of this section. The district court shall review the offender's sentence within one hundred twenty-six days after notification to the district attorney of record by the department of corrections that the offender is not able to complete the sentence to the youthful offender system or fails to comply with the terms or conditions of the youthful offender system.
(d) (I) Except as provided in subsection (5)(d)(II) of this section, the department of corrections may house an offender in a youthful offender facility that also houses inmates twenty-five years of age or older sentenced to the department of corrections who are of a lower than close custody level if such inmates are housed in the youthful offender facility for the purpose of participating in a program to mentor youthful offenders that is authorized by the executive director of the department of corrections.
(II) The department of corrections shall not house an offender in a youthful offender facility that also houses any inmates twenty-five years of age or older sentenced to the department of corrections who have been convicted of a sex offense, as described in section 16-11.7-102 (3).
(6) The department of corrections shall establish and enforce standards for the youthful offender system. Offenders in the youthful offender system, including those under community supervision, shall be considered inmates for the purposes of section 17-1-111, C.R.S.
(7) The number of offenders in any program element under the youthful offender system shall be determined by the department within available appropriations.
(8) The department of corrections may and is encouraged to contract with any private or public entity for the provision of services and facilities under the youthful offender system.
(9) On or before November 1, 1993, the department, in conjunction with the division of criminal justice, shall develop and the department shall implement a process for monitoring and evaluating the youthful offender system. In implementing such system, the department may contract with a private agency for assistance.
(10) (a) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2002, p. 881, § 19, effective August 7, 2002.)
(b) The division of criminal justice shall independently monitor and evaluate, or contract with a public or private entity to independently monitor and evaluate, the youthful offender system. Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), on or before November 1, 2002, and on or before November 1 every two years thereafter, the division of criminal justice shall report its findings, or the findings of the contract entity, to the judiciary committees of the senate and the house of representatives. The department of corrections shall cooperate in providing the necessary data to the division of criminal justice or an entity designated by the division of criminal justice to complete the evaluation required in this section.
(11) Repealed.
(11.5) (a) (I) An offender who is sentenced to the youthful offender system shall submit to collection and a chemical testing of a biological substance sample from the offender to determine the genetic markers thereof.
(II) Collection of the biological substance sample shall occur as soon as possible after being sentenced to the youthful offender system, and the results thereof shall be filed with and maintained by the Colorado bureau of investigation. The results of such tests shall be furnished to any law enforcement agency upon request.
(b) The department of corrections or its designee or contractor may use reasonable force to obtain biological substance samples in accordance with paragraph (a) of this subsection (11.5).
(c) Repealed.
system, and the results thereof shall be filed with and maintained by the Colorado bureau of investigation. The results of such tests shall be furnished to any law enforcement agency upon request.
(b) The department of corrections or its designee or contractor may use reasonable force to obtain biological substance samples in accordance with paragraph (a) of this subsection (11.5).
(c) Repealed.
(d) The Colorado bureau of investigation is directed to conduct the chemical testing of the biological substance samples obtained pursuant to this subsection (11.5).
(12) The general assembly recognizes that the increased number of violent crimes committed by juveniles and young adults is a problem faced by all the states of this nation. By creating the youthful offender system, Colorado stands at the forefront of the states in creating a new approach to addressing this problem. The general assembly also declares that the cost of implementing and operating the youthful offender system will create a burden on the state's limited resources. Accordingly, the general assembly directs the department of corrections to seek out and accept available federal, state, and local public funds, including project demonstration funds, and private moneys and private systems for the purpose of conducting the youthful offender system.
(13) Repealed.
(14) The department of corrections shall consult with one or more external experts to conduct a study of the effectiveness of the current youthful offender system, as designed by the enabling statute and as implemented by the department of corrections. The department shall consider all relevant research on effective programming for young adults and alternative management and program models for the youthful offender system. Additionally, the study must assess the potential expansion of the youthful offender system to serve offenders up to the age of twenty-five years who commit felony offenses, including the offenses that currently make a younger offender eligible for youthful offender sentencing by the court, and how that expansion could be implemented. The department shall seek alternative funding sources for this study through gifts, grants, and donations or fund the study through current appropriations. A report of findings must be completed by the external experts, in conjunction with the department, by December 1, 2021, and the report must be made available to the public.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-18.docx#18-1.3-407Fetched: 10/6/2026