On July 15, it was announced that Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams is one of 17 sheriffs across the state of Colorado that signed a joint letter to Governor Jared Polis alleging that Department of Corrections (DOC) failures have created an “unsustainable burden” on jail operations and taxpayers. The letter explains there is a growing backlog of incarcerated individuals in county jails due to the DOC’s delay in transferring custody.
“At the same time, court-ordered mental health evaluations and transfers to the State Hospital are increasingly delayed, further compounding overcrowding and resource strain,” the letter states. “County jails were never intended — nor funded — to house state inmates for prolonged periods. Yet, across Colorado, counties are being forced to expand housing capacity and increase staffing simply to keep up with the rising number of inmates who should already be in state custody.”
The joint-letter further claims that taxpayers are shouldering the burden of incarceration because there is a shortfall in the state reimbursement. Currently, the state provides $77.16 per inmate per day. This falls short of the actual cost of incarceration by as much as $60 per day per inmate, according to the county sheriffs.
“This is no longer a localized problem — it is a statewide crisis,” the letter states. “Our ability to maintain safe and effective jail operations is being undermined. Staffing levels are stretched thin. And most importantly, justice-involved individuals are being denied access to rehabilitative services and treatment programs available within state facilities.”
The sheriffs are asking Governor Polis to take action by using emergency bed capacity or contracted facilities to reduce the DOC transfer backlog. They request an increase in the per diem reimbursement rate to reflect the real costs of daily incarceration for each DOC inmate. The letter calls upon Governor Polis and his administration to invest in more treatment and hospital capacity to help counties comply with court-ordered mental health requirements. “Most urgently,” the letter states, the governor should meet with county sheriffs to discuss the impact and collaborate on solutions.
“This has been a systemic issue that has only gotten worse under the Polis administration,” Sheriff Reams said. “At some point, this State must prioritize keeping the citizens safe by running an effective prison system.”
In addition to Sheriff Reams of Weld County, the letter was signed by sheriffs from El Paso, Teller, Pueblo, Douglas, Lake, Cheyenne, Montrose, Gilpin, Otero, Fremont, Grand, Archuleta, Kit Carson, Conejos, Garfield, and Costilla.
