Initiative 112 will appear on the ballot in November. If passed, it will increase the eligibility for parole by time served from 75% to 85% of one’s sentence for those convicted of certain crimes in Colorado.

Currently in Colorado, most people in jail are eligible for parole — or early release — once they have served 75% of their sentence. Mandatory sentencing measures such as Initiative 112 propose to increase eligibility by time served from 75% to 85% for those convicted of certain crimes, starting in January 2025. This proposal has large social and economic costs, including to the state’s budget.

The U.S. prison population has been growing rapidly, with a significant increase in the number of elderly prisoners. This growth has strained the resources of states, and has had negative economic, behavioral, and educational outcomes for children and families of incarcerated people. When more people are incarcerated, states spend more and receive less tax money from individuals who would otherwise be working. Prolonged incarceration also affects families economically through foregone wages and prison costs.

In this report, we estimate the economic impact of mandatory sentencing measures such as Initiative 112 for Colorado.

Read the full report here.