In a defining moment for justice-impacted families across Colorado, the state legislature has passed the CDOC Prison Visitation Rights Bill (HB-1013), with Governor Jared Polis expected to sign it into law in the coming days. This trailblazing legislation establishes visitation as a right, not a privilege, for individuals incarcerated in ...
In 2023, Cortney was homeless, living in her car with her three children in Denver, Colorado, and struggling with addiction. Soon, her circumstances brought her face to face with the criminal justice system and the very real possibility of losing her family. It was all the motivation she needed to ...
When Shayne returned home from incarceration, he faced the same overwhelming reality that so many justice-impacted individuals do—starting over with nothing but $100 and the clothes on his back. In previous attempts at reentry, the financial strain became unbearable, leading him back to old habits as a way to cope ...
Reentering society after incarceration comes with countless hurdles, from securing stable employment to affording basic necessities. For many, the first few months are the most critical—without financial support, the risk of recidivism increases dramatically. In Denver, George, a participant in the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) program, experienced these challenges ...
Colorado lawmakers are trying to make it a right rather than a privilege for inmates in the state’s prisons to receive visitation. Now, inmates in Colorado’s 19 state-run prisons can have their visitation privilege revoked if they violate the Department of Corrections’ rules, which can include infractions such as failing ...
In this Q&A story on the impact of reentry cash assistance, we spoke with Perri, who navigated the challenging path of getting back on your feet upon being released on parole. After living in a sober house for two years, Perri discovered the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Denver ...
The 2024 PepsiCo Foundation Community Impact Award honors CEO's efforts in helping justice-impacted communities achieve pathways to economic stability.
COLORADO SPRINGS — Close to 600,000 people a year are released from state and federal prisons according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. “The objective once you come back is to get out and to do the right thing moving forward,” said Darrius Taylor who spent 22 years in ...
When Criss first moved out to Colorado to look for a job, he was concerned that his criminal record might present some challenges. While looking for resources to help him in this regard, he came across the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) and became a participant. He was immediately given ...
Legislation would have provided Coloradans returning from incarceration up to $3,000 to cover essential needs, such as housing, food, transportation, and more Denver, CO – February 7, 2024 - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed Senate Bill 24-012. The bill was introduced in January by Colorado State Senators Julie Gonzales ...
Colorado lawmakers killed a bill that would have provided direct cash assistance for daily expenses to support people recently released from incarceration.
A Colorado bill aims to provide direct cash assistance for daily expenses to support people recently released from incarceration, with the ultimate goal of reducing recidivism.
State lawmakers are considering a bill that would provide up to $3,000 to convicted felons to help them transition back into society when they leave prison or jail.
Colorado state Sen. James Coleman knows times are tough for a lot of Coloradans. Especially if they have been convicted of a crime and served their sentence.
Colorado Democrats are proposing a new cash assistance plan that would give people leaving prison up to $3,000 for "basic life expenses."
A bill filed in Colorado aims to break the cycle of incarceration by giving people up to $3,000 upon release from prison.
Like many people reentering their communities after incarceration, Demetrius faced roadblocks to obtaining employment once he got home. Prospective employers struggled to look beyond his record, and Demetrius found he needed to improve some professional skills to help him stand out as a job candidate. Thankfully, the Center for Employment ...
Experiencing the Colorado State Capitol for the first time can be overwhelming. I never experienced anything like it, and I certainly didn’t expect it to result in a job.
Brian had studied information technology (IT) previously when he was a student at the University of Colorado Boulder. He attended the school on a full scholarship through the United States Navy, but like many young people, had a hard time focusing on school and choosing a major. “I was passionate ...
Today, Darrius is an eloquent and reflective leader who pours his heart into the work of helping individuals returning home from incarceration. But it wasn’t long ago Darrius was on the other side, unsure what his life would look like after prison. “Many people were wondering what type of life ...
Looking at his life today, Ubaldo sometimes has to pinch himself. “I tell my wife all the time, am I dreaming?,” he says, “It’s so wonderful. I’m so proud of where I am professionally and personally.” Ubaldo has a loving wife and six happy, successful children. He has a career ...
Three new portable outdoor vacuums are helping Colorado Springs Public Works crews clean up the city more efficiently and effectively, part of an ongoing initiative to clear trash bags, aluminum soda cans, cardboard and other litter from medians and gutters.
George calls his full-time job at Center for Employment Opportunities “an answered prayer.” “Not just the job, but to be able to work alongside others,” George says. “To be able to tell them, hey, I know what it takes. Of course, you have to put in the work, but you ...
For Heather, a Colorado native, things were looking good in 2020 for the first time in awhile. She was released from incarceration in December of 2019 and the following February she began job training and transitional work with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a reentry employment provider. But she ...
Losing a job during the pandemic could have been a catastrophe for Shaun. But thanks to the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) program and our Returning Citizens Stimulus (RCS) cash assistance, this setback didn’t stop him from achieving economic mobility. After battling addiction and receiving a felony conviction in 2019 ...
A new program is helping formerly incarcerated people across the country.
Heather Fitzsimmons was working on getting her life back together and staying clean while on probation in Aurora when she noticed what seemed to be an extra deposit in the account where she gets paid.
Carmen was 40 years old when she found herself caught in the grips of addiction. Carmen’s life began spiraling out of control, resulting in recurring trips to jail and drug clinics, followed by long stretches of probation. She felt her life was starting over again from scratch every time she ...
COLORADO SPRINGS — FOX21 News is once again working with the Colorado Springs Independent for this year’s Indy Give! campaign. Recently, the Center for Employment Opportunities joined FOX21’s morning crew to talk about its work and what help it needs from the community.
(A free email subscription on Colorado Springs Business Journal is required to view) - For those newly released from prison, especially those who have served extended sentences, reacclimating to society can seem like an insurmountable task. Industries have been shuttered, technology has marched on without them, and old contacts and ...
"Congress must take action and make sure workforce investment and subsidized employment pass in economic recovery legislation being debated in D.C."
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A common perception is that much of the litter that accumulates along I-25 in Colorado Springs comes from people who toss it from their vehicles as they drive by. But that's hardly the case.
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the frequency of snowstorms this fall is delaying some trash removal.The private agency [Center for Employment Opportunities] former prison inmates who do the work as part of their parole -- replacing Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful, which employed volunteers who working off community service ...
DENVER — The Center for Employment Opportunities has recognized the Colorado Department of Transportation for its role in providing transitional work to individuals on probation or recently released on parole. CDOT's partnership with the Center for Employment Opportunities has provided employment for nearly 200 people since May 2017. Participants in ...
