2021 Colorado Code
Title 17 - Corrections
Article 29 - Physical Labor by Inmates
§ 17-29-103. Executive Director to Establish Work Program

1. The executive director may establish an intensive labor work program at all facilities, utilizing the physical labor of able-bodied offenders, which will be directed toward the reclamation and maintenance of land and resources, including but not limited to those of any federal, state, or local governmental agency or nonprofit agency within this state, and which will be administered by the various wardens responsible for the administration of any correctional facility. Such intensive labor work program shall be operated on an incentive basis so that an offender assigned to the intensive labor work program who demonstrates that he or she is willing to modify his or her behavioral patterns, to cooperate in his or her rehabilitation, and to learn both a work ethic and a job skill becomes eligible for reassignment from the intensive labor work program.
2. Immediately after the evaluation and diagnosis required by section 16-11-308 (2), C.R.S., and initial placement at a correctional facility, every able-bodied offender may, by departmental classification action, be assigned to and shall participate in the intensive labor work program for a period of not less than thirty days; except that the executive director or the wardens responsible for the administration of correctional facilities may waive or delay an offender's initial assignment to the intensive labor work program for the good of the department. Offenders assigned to the intensive labor work program will be compensated at a rate set in accordance with the regulations of the department concerning offender pay, including but not limited to provisions concerning deductions and reimbursement for care claims.
3. The executive director is specifically authorized to assign such other able-bodied offenders whose behavior is inconsistent with the rules established by the executive director or the executive director's designee to the intensive labor work program for such periods of time as may best serve the offenders and assist the executive director in the management of correctional facilities under the supervision of the executive director. Eligibility for reassignment from the intensive labor work program to such educational or vocational work programs as are consistent with the diagnosis and evaluation conducted pursuant to article 40 of this title will be determined by departmental classification action after reviewing the offender's willingness to modify behavioral patterns, to commit to cooperating in rehabilitation, and to learn both a work ethic and a job skill. Offenders assigned to the intensive labor work program pursuant to this section will also be compensated at a rate set in accordance with the regulations concerning offender pay promulgated by the department.
4. The executive director shall establish rules to implement this article.

History. Source: L. 81: Entire article added, p. 966, § 1, effective June 10. L. 97: Entire section amended, p. 28, § 6, effective March 20. L. 2000: (1) and (2) amended, p. 848, § 47, effective May 24.