North Aurora is one of two jurisdictions in the state of Colorado selected to pilot a justice reinvestment program designed to increase public safety and promote economic opportunities.
The Justice Reinvestment Crime Prevention Initiative (HB17-1326) was signed into law in June and goes into effect in August. It allocates roughly $2 million per year each to north Aurora and southeast Colorado Springs to fund loans for small businesses and grants for nonprofits that provide services for underserved communities, including formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.
A July town hall held at the Community College of Aurora was hosted by local elected officials who supported the legislation. Discussing the details and benefits of the new law are its main proponents: Christie Donner, founder and executive director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and Hassan Latif, Executive Director of the Second Chance Center, based in Aurora.
The Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition has been working on sentencing reform and ending mass incarceration for the last 20 years. More recently, the group has concentrated its policy initiatives that prioritize healthier communities and public safety, and funneling dollars toward ideas and initiatives that benefit local communities.
“It’s not courts, cops and cages that make us safe. They’re an important part of the community, but for us, the solution is to move on the front end,” she said.
What’s different about the new justice reinvestment law is its staunch focus on community development and economic opportunities.
“We are building bridges in communities where they may not be as connected, and making public spaces more comfortable and accommodating,” says Christie. “Grants funded by this law can help support direct services to keep kids in school, provide rapid rehousing of domestic violence victims, or help people find housing.”
About $500,000 of the allocated amounts for each pilot area will be dedicated to small business lending through community finance development institutions, such as Community Enterprise Development Services in Aurora. Low-income, as well as immigrant and refugee communities, often have trouble accessing capital for small businesses. Microloans to area residents will range from $500 to $50,000.
“The community needs solutions,” Christie said. “It makes sense to do something different to target those communities that are struggling with higher crime rates and higher rates of justice involvement.”
In Aurora, the Second Chance Center has been providing reentry case management, counseling and mentoring services for formerly incarcerated individuals since 2012. Hassan, who served 18 years in Colorado state prison in Canon City, knows firsthand the challenges and struggles of transitioning from incarceration.
“We know all about that life. We don’t allow for our folks to bemoan the challenges of transitioning,” says Hassan, noting that 6 of 11 staff members at Second Chance Center also have been previously incarcerated. “We understand the issues of reentry. So if you’re open to suggestions and guidance, and commit to do some things differently, we can help you navigate those challenges.”
“We don’t make excuses for the decisions that people made to send them to prison. Our work is to help folks to identify those things that are challenges and deficits for them— either in character or performance – and work on doing something about it.”
Second Chance Center logs about 1,100 client visits per month. Hassan said he is proud of the fact that among the people they serve, the recidivism rate is a low 3%. “We have not had any police contact incident in our existence. We’re a haven for some folks who have been without such a place to feel safe and supported in,” said Hassan. “Most of our folks have felt apart from – instead of a part of – for most of their lives, including the families they were raised in.”
The accumulation of traumatic life experiences means that many people transitioning from incarceration suffer from persistent mental health issues and substance use vulnerabilities. Beyond providing a sense of belonging and understanding, Second Chance Center offers a wide array of services, including job preparation, work search, healthy relationships, addiction counseling, and emergency housing.
“If you haven’t heard of us, the reason for that is there hasn’t been much noise at the center. People come in and they go quietly about the business of developing their lives,” he said.
“Their successful transition is a matter of community health. We consider ourselves a very integral part of the public safety formula. So far, we’ve been successful providing assistance for folks, and we appreciate opportunity to do it here in Aurora.”
Hassan Latif speaks about the work of the Second Chance Center (2015)
Christie Donner on prison spending and sentencing reform (2010)
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| Hasan Latif |
A July town hall held at the Community College of Aurora was hosted by local elected officials who supported the legislation. Discussing the details and benefits of the new law are its main proponents: Christie Donner, founder and executive director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and Hassan Latif, Executive Director of the Second Chance Center, based in Aurora.
The Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition has been working on sentencing reform and ending mass incarceration for the last 20 years. More recently, the group has concentrated its policy initiatives that prioritize healthier communities and public safety, and funneling dollars toward ideas and initiatives that benefit local communities.
“It’s not courts, cops and cages that make us safe. They’re an important part of the community, but for us, the solution is to move on the front end,” she said.
What’s different about the new justice reinvestment law is its staunch focus on community development and economic opportunities.
 |
| Christie Donner |
About $500,000 of the allocated amounts for each pilot area will be dedicated to small business lending through community finance development institutions, such as Community Enterprise Development Services in Aurora. Low-income, as well as immigrant and refugee communities, often have trouble accessing capital for small businesses. Microloans to area residents will range from $500 to $50,000.
“The community needs solutions,” Christie said. “It makes sense to do something different to target those communities that are struggling with higher crime rates and higher rates of justice involvement.”
In Aurora, the Second Chance Center has been providing reentry case management, counseling and mentoring services for formerly incarcerated individuals since 2012. Hassan, who served 18 years in Colorado state prison in Canon City, knows firsthand the challenges and struggles of transitioning from incarceration.
“We know all about that life. We don’t allow for our folks to bemoan the challenges of transitioning,” says Hassan, noting that 6 of 11 staff members at Second Chance Center also have been previously incarcerated. “We understand the issues of reentry. So if you’re open to suggestions and guidance, and commit to do some things differently, we can help you navigate those challenges.”
“We don’t make excuses for the decisions that people made to send them to prison. Our work is to help folks to identify those things that are challenges and deficits for them— either in character or performance – and work on doing something about it.”
Second Chance Center logs about 1,100 client visits per month. Hassan said he is proud of the fact that among the people they serve, the recidivism rate is a low 3%. “We have not had any police contact incident in our existence. We’re a haven for some folks who have been without such a place to feel safe and supported in,” said Hassan. “Most of our folks have felt apart from – instead of a part of – for most of their lives, including the families they were raised in.”
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| From left: Christie Donner; Rachel Harlow Schalk, Colorado Department of Local Affairs; and Hassan Latif |
“If you haven’t heard of us, the reason for that is there hasn’t been much noise at the center. People come in and they go quietly about the business of developing their lives,” he said.
“Their successful transition is a matter of community health. We consider ourselves a very integral part of the public safety formula. So far, we’ve been successful providing assistance for folks, and we appreciate opportunity to do it here in Aurora.”
Hassan Latif speaks about the work of the Second Chance Center (2015)
Christie Donner on prison spending and sentencing reform (2010)