Why would someone be sent to a halfway house instead of prison?
Community corrections facilities are often referred to as halfway houses because they are halfway between prison and the community. In 1976, the Colorado legislature authorized the state funding of Community Corrections as an alternative to prison. Referred to as Senate Bill IV (CRS 17-27-101), this statute encouraged the judicial system to divert convicted non-violent offenders away from the Department of Corrections to residential and non-residential community corrections programs. This was done to increase the chances for offenders successful reintegration into society while greatly reducing prison overcrowding and the cost of housing offenders in prisons. The goal of community corrections is to successfully return offenders to their community through stable employment and housing, financial responsibility, improved life skills, and drug and alcohol sobriety. • The average daily cost for a community corrections bed is $37.18 compared to a prison bed cost of $75.58 • Close monitoring
