New legislation will guarantee gate money, vital identification documents, data reporting from CDOC, and transportation for people leaving incarceration
Contact:
Claire Gross, Sr. Manager of Public Relations
cgross@ceoworks.org | (646) 370-8292
Denver, CO–February 19, 2026–The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) celebrates the introduction of the Reentry Readiness Act (HB26-1256) –legislation that demands support and dignity for those returning home from incarceration. Over 6,000 people return from incarceration annually in Colorado and the state’s 3 year recidivism rate stands at 28%. The Reentry Readiness Act offers support to people leaving incarceration and enhances public safety by requiring financial and bureaucratic assistance from the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) as well as oversight to ensure efficacy.
In addition to experiencing unemployment rates much higher than the general population due to discrimination based on having a criminal record, justice-impacted people are also often turned away from jobs, housing, and social programs because they don’t have access to the necessary identification documents.
The Reentry Readiness Act will:
I am proud to bring the Reentry Readiness Act as an important step in ensuring that Colorado's criminal legal system doesn't abandon people returning to their communities,” said Colorado State Representative, Jamie Jackson. “Too many Coloradans come home without the ID necessary to apply for a job, or enough money in their pocket to get themselves home or have a meal. We must ensure people have the absolute basics so that they have the opportunity for successful reentry. It is our responsibility to ensure that rehabilitation, redemption, and reconciliation are not empty promises for those leaving incarceration in Colorado."
“A bill like the Reentry Readiness Act is overdue and we are grateful that Representative Jackson understands the urgency,” says Simone Price, Director of Organizing for the Center for Employment Opportunities. “Left without the vital documents necessary to rent an apartment, maintain employment, or sign up for crucial government benefits, justice-impacted Coloradans are expected to rebuild their lives without the necessary tools to do so. The Reentry Readiness Act alleviates some of the burdens and challenges of reentry so that people returning from incarceration can have a moment to breathe and plan for their future.
“That simple difference is so big when you come home to a new and confusing world different from the one you left,” said Larry, former CEO participant and Colorado resident. “I can’t express enough how significant having these basics are when you get out. Coming home we all have so much anxiety about the unknowns. The mental load of all of that impacts everything that you do. Having an ID and a little bit of money eases that burden in such important ways.”
The Reentry Readiness Act also requires the CDOC to provide annual reporting on program metrics and outcomes. For too long, the CDOC has been able to mask thousands of failures with deceptive data reporting, allowing the agency to release people who need it most without vital documents and gate money.
Colorado law provides $100 for people returning home from incarceration, yet fewer than 1 in 3 people receive any gate money allowance because of a tangled web of deductions, disqualifications, and broad discretion. The first 72 hours after release are critical to successful outcomes. The array of arbitrary exclusions exacerbates the already grueling and stressful reentry journey.
Colorado law also intends for every person leaving prison to have a valid state ID but in reality, nearly 1 in 4 people leaving incarceration are “ineligible” due to age, sentence type, or legal financial obligations like child support, restitution, or DMV holds. CDOC only reports ID distribution after they have disqualified thousands of “ineligible” people – providing a deceptively rosy 99% success rate.
The challenges of reentry keep justice-impacted people from achieving economic stability and mobility for themselves and their families. At any given time, around 60% of people returning from incarceration experience joblessness and 33% remain unemployed four years after release. People returning from incarceration are ten times more likely to be unhoused and twice as likely to experience food insecurity than the general public. Knowing the barriers that define reentry, to deny people any form of support threatens the safety and well being of individuals, families, and communities.
The Reentry Readiness Act will ensure that people leaving incarceration are given the means to start anew. This law is a step towards transforming Colorado’s reentry system creating equitable futures from everyone returning to their communities.
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About the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)
The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services exclusively to people recently released from incarceration. CEO currently operates in 30 cities in 12 states and is dedicated to ensuring that justice-impacted people have opportunities and careers to achieve socioeconomic mobility. For more information, please visit: ceoworks.org.