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Colorado Report

Colorado

IMPRISONMENT IN COLORADO

At year-end 2004, Colorado prisons housed 20,293 inmates serving sentences of more than one year. Of these inmates, 18,393 were male and 1,900 were female. Colorado's 2004 female imprisonment rate of 83 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents is the 10th highest in the country. Colorado's 2004 overall imprisonment rate of 438 prisoners per 100,000 residents is the 18th highest overall imprisonment rate in the country.

In 1977, Colorado prisons housed 72 female inmates; by 2004, the female prison population had reached 1,900. Colorado's female prison population was at its lowest with 66 female prisoners in 1978 and peaked at 1,900 female inmates in 2004.

GROWTH IN FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATE

Between 1977 and 2004, Colorado's female prison population grew by 2,539% with an average annual percent change of 13.6% per year.

Colorado's 2004 female imprisonment rate of 83 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents was the 10th highest female imprisonment rate in the country. From 1977 until the early 1990s, Colorado's female imprisonment rate was below the average across states. In the mid-1990s, Colorado's female imprisonment rate began to grow at a pace faster than average. Within a few years, Colorado's female imprisonment rate was notably higher than the average across states. By 2004, Colorado was among the 10 most punitive states in its female imprisonment rate. Colorado is interesting in that its female imprisonment rate ranking changed substantially between 1977 (ranked 33rd) and 2004 (ranked 10th) and in that its overall imprisonment rate is closer to the average than is its female imprisonment rate. Colorado appears to be particularly punitive in its imprisonment of female offenders relative to other states.

MALE TO FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATIO

The male to female imprisonment ratio indicates the number of male inmates for every female inmate. Although both female and male imprisonment rates have increased over the period of study, a shrinking ratio suggests that the number of female prisoners has increased at a faster pace. In 1977, across the states, there were an average of 26 male prisoners for every female prisoner; by 2004, this ratio had fallen to 13 male prisoners for every female prisoner. Colorado's 1977 ratio was higher than average with 31 male prisoners for every female prisoner. In 2004, Colorado's male to female imprisonment ratio (10:1) had fallen below the average across states.

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

According to the 2000 Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, Colorado has 48 correctional facilities. Of Colorado's 48 correctional facilities, 29 house male prisoners only, seven house female prisoners only, and 12 house both male and female prisoners.