On Friday, July 7, 2023, Boulder County hosted the groundbreaking event for one of its latest projects: The Alternative Sentencing Facility (ASF). According to the statement released by Boulder County Information, “The Boulder County Alternative Sentencing Facility is a community-based, minimum security, residential facility that will house all alternative sentencing programs utilized in Boulder County”.

For many of the participants, this facility will serve as a transitional space between the jail and the community. This new incarceration option for Boulder County offenders will provide multiple programs to help inmates adapt to society upon release.

Jeff Geotz is the division chief for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. In an interview, Geotz explained the difficulties inmates face when being reintroduced to the disorganization of everyday life.

“You can’t go from a regimented program right back into the community,” said Geotz. “You constantly have someone telling you what to do all the time… How do you move on with your life? How do you get a job?”

The Alternative Sentencing Facility will be run by Boulder County’s Community Justice Services (CJS). Programs at this facility will include familiar residential correctional programs, day reporting, as well as work release. One of the aspects that makes this facility unique is the new programs being implemented into this type of service, one of which is a behavioral health program designed to help inmates tackle programs regarding mental health.

Division Manager of Boulder County’s Community Justice Services Monica Rotner says that the ASF is meant to provide Boulder County inmates with more opportunities for success post-incarceration with new types of education and support.

“This is an effort to both add programs that we don’t have right now in Boulder County,” said Rotner, “[It] also to bring those clients that are getting services into this new facility that is more state of the art.”

Rotner also explained how the ASF will be more beneficial for low to moderate-risk inmates, as contact with high-risk inmates in prison frequently increases an inmate’s propensity for criminality.

“We really want to keep our jail… as a place for people who really, really need to be inside of the facility and not let out during the time that they’re there,” said Rotner.

The construction of the Alternative Sentencing Facility will take approximately 18 months to complete and cost about $35.6 million.

For more information about Boulder County’s Alternative Sentencing Facility project, please visit https:// bouldercounty.gov/safety/communityjustice services/alternative-sentencingfacility/ alternative-sentencing-facilitymission/.