Voters can drop off a mail-in ballot at a 24-hour box, or can visit a voting center to vote in-person. Oct. 23, 2022. (Courtesy of Nathan Thompson)
On Nov. 5, Colorado’s Proposition 128 passed, with 62% of voters, or about 1.8 million people, in support of the measure. The measure will raise the minimum amount of prison time people convicted of violent crimes must serve before being eligible for parole – from 75% of their sentence to 85%. CU Boulder students share their reactions to this proposition passing.
“The whole violent crime thing is what made me vote yes,” said University of Colorado Boulder student Piper Eivins. “I don’t really understand why someone would want to let dangerous people back out in our community. They’re going to prison for a reason.”
The violent crimes this measure would apply to include second-degree murder, first-degree assault, kidnapping, arson, sexual assault, burglary and aggravated robbery. The proposition also enacts the three-strikes law, stating that any person who has been convicted of violent crimes two previous times will be completely ineligible for parole on their third offense.
The proposition was sponsored by Advance Colorado, a conservative action-based political group.
“Voters across the political spectrum sent a forceful signal that they want criminals kept in jail longer, and that’s why ‘Truth In Sentencing’ won a strong victory tonight,” the group said in a press release.
There is some backlash to the passing of Proposition 128, the main concern being an increase in the cost of running prisons.
According to the Colorado Fiscal Institute’s fiscal impact report, state-run prisons cost $56,766 per offender each year. Under Proposition 128, the “additional operating costs”, due to offenders spending more time in prison, would be about $48.5 million each year.
Ashley Yi, another CU Boulder Student, said she thought this information was not made clear enough on the ballot.
“I originally voted yes on (Proposition 128) without giving it too much thought,” she said. “I obviously don’t want violent criminals to be running around our town, but I do wish the (cost) increase was emphasized more. The economy is something I care about a lot, so it definitely could’ve swayed my opinion.”
The measure will take effect this January and will not apply to people convicted of violent crimes before the new year.
Contact Guest Writer Lauren Riley at Lauren.Riley-1@colorado.edu.
