2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 17 - CORRECTIONS (§§ 17-1-101 — 17-42-105) › CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS (§§ 17-18-101 — 17-34-102) › FACILITIES (§§ 17-18-101 — 17-26.5-102) › Article 22.5 - INMATE AND PAROLE TIME COMPUTATION (§§ 17-22.5-101 — 17-22.5-407) › Part 4 - PAROLE ELIGIBILITY AND DISCHARGE FROM CUSTODY (§§ 17-22.5-401 — 17-22.5-407) › Section 17-22.5-403 - Parole eligibility

(1)
Any person sentenced for a class 2, class 3, class 4, class 5, or class 6 felony, or a level 1, level 2, level 3, or level 4 drug felony, or any unclassified felony shall be eligible for parole after such person has served fifty percent of the sentence imposed upon such person, less any time authorized for earned time granted pursuant to section
17-22.5-405
. However, the date established by this subsection (1) upon which any person shall be eligible for parole may be extended by the executive director for misconduct during incarceration. The executive director shall promulgate rules and regulations concerning when and under what conditions any inmate's parole eligibility date may be extended. Such rules and regulations shall be promulgated in such a manner as to promote fairness and consistency in the treatment of all inmates.
(2)
(a)
Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, any person convicted and sentenced for second degree murder, first degree assault, first degree kidnapping unless the first degree kidnapping is a class 1 felony, first or second degree sexual assault, first degree arson, first degree burglary, or aggravated robbery, committed on or after June 7, 1990, and before July 1, 2004, which person has previously been convicted of a crime which would have been a crime of violence as defined in section
18-1.3-406
, C.R.S., shall be eligible for parole after such person has served seventy-five percent of the sentence imposed upon such person, less any time authorized for earned time granted pursuant to section
17-22.5-405
.
(b)
The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) shall not apply to persons sentenced pursuant to part 10 of article
1.3
of title
18
, C.R.S.
(c)
(I)
A person who is convicted as an adult of a class 1 felony following a direct filing of an information or indictment in the district court pursuant to section
19-2.5-801
, or transfer of proceedings to the district court pursuant to section
19-2.5-802
, or pursuant to either of these sections as they existed prior to their repeal and reenactment, with amendments, by House Bill 96-1005, which felony was committed on or after July 1, 1990, and before July 1, 2006, and who is resentenced pursuant to section
18-1.3-401 (4)(c)
, is not entitled to receive any reduction of the person's sentence pursuant to this section.
(II)
Repealed.
(2.5)
(a)
Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, any person convicted and sentenced for second degree murder, first degree assault, first degree kidnapping unless the first degree kidnapping is a class 1 felony, first degree arson, first degree burglary, or aggravated robbery, committed on or after July 1, 2004, shall be eligible for parole after such person has served seventy-five percent of the sentence imposed upon such person, less any time authorized for earned time granted pursuant to section
17-22.5-405
.
(b)
The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.5) shall only apply to:
(I)
A person convicted and sentenced for a crime listed in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.5) that is a class 2 or class 3 felony offense; or
(II)
A person convicted and sentenced for a crime listed in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.5) that is a class 4 or class 5 felony offense, which person has previously been convicted of a crime of violence as defined in section
18-1.3-406
, C.R.S.
(3)
Notwithstanding subsection (1) or (2) of this section, any person convicted and sentenced for any crime enumerated in subsection (2) of this section, committed on or after June 7, 1990, and before July 1, 2004, who has twice previously been convicted for a crime which would have been a crime of violence as defined in section
18-1.3-406
, C.R.S., shall be eligible for parole after such person has served seventy-five percent of the sentence served upon such person, at which time such person shall be referred by the department to the state board of parole which may place such person on parole for a period of time which does not exceed the time remaining on such person's original sentence. For offenses committed on or after July 1, 1993, such person shall be placed on parole for the period of time specified in section
18-1.3-401 (1)(a)(V)
, C.R.S. Section
17-22.5-402 (2)
shall not apply to any such offender.
(3.5)
(a)
Notwithstanding subsection (1) or (2.5) of this section, any person convicted and sentenced for any crime enumerated in subsection (2.5) of this section, committed on or after July 1, 2004, who has previously been convicted for a crime which would have been a crime of violence as defined in section
18-1.3-406
, C.R.S., shall be eligible for parole after such person has served seventy-five percent of the sentence served upon such person, at which time such person shall be referred by the department to the state board of parole which may place the person on parole for the period of time specified in section
18-1.3-401 (1)(a)(V)
, C.R.S. Section
17-22.5-402 (2)
shall not apply to any such offender.
(b)
The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (3.5) shall only apply to:
(I)
A person convicted and sentenced for a crime listed in paragraph (a) of subsection (2.5) of this section that is a class 2 or class 3 felony offense; or
(II)
A person convicted and sentenced for a crime listed in paragraph (a) of subsection (2.5) of this section that is a class 4 or class 5 felony offense, which person has twice previously been convicted of a crime of violence as defined in section
18-1.3-406
, C.R.S.
(4)
The governor may grant parole to an inmate to whom subsection (2) or (3) of this section applies prior to such inmate's parole eligibility date or discharge date if, in the governor's opinion, extraordinary mitigating circumstances exist and such inmate's release from institutional custody is compatible with the safety and welfare of society.
(4.5)
(a)
After considering any relevant evidence presented by any person or agency and considering the presumptions set forth in section
17-34-102 (8)
, the governor may grant early parole to an offender to whom subsection (1) or (2.5) of this section applies when the offender successfully completes the specialized program described in section
17-34-102
if, in the governor's opinion, extraordinary mitigating circumstances exist and the offender's release from institutional custody is compatible with the safety and welfare of society.
(b)
When an offender applies for early parole pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (4.5) after having successfully completed the specialized program described in section
17-34-102
, the offender shall make his or her application to the governor's office with notice and a copy of the application sent to the state board of parole created in section
17-2-201
. The state board of parole shall review the offender's application and all supporting documents and schedule a hearing if the board considers making a recommendation for early parole, at which hearing any victim must have the opportunity to be heard, pursuant to section
24-4.1-302.5 (1)(j)
, C.R.S. Not later than ninety days after receipt of a copy of an offender's application for early parole, the state board of parole, after considering the presumptions set forth in section
17-34-102 (8)
, shall make a recommendation to the governor concerning whether early parole should be granted to the offender.
(c)
The department, in consultation with the state board of parole, shall develop any necessary policies and procedures to implement this subsection (4.5), including procedures for providing notice to any victim, as required by sections
24-4.1-302.5 (1)(j)
and
24-4.1-303 (14)
, C.R.S., and to the district attorney's office that prosecuted the crime for which the offender was sentenced.
(5)
For any offender who is incarcerated for an offense committed prior to July 1, 1993, upon application for parole, the state board of parole, working in conjunction with the department and using the guidelines established pursuant to section
17-22.5-404
, shall determine whether or not to grant parole and, if granted, the length of the period of parole. Prior to the parole release hearing, the division of adult parole shall conduct a parole plan investigation and inform the state board of parole of the results of the investigation. If the state board of parole finds an inmate's parole plan inadequate, it shall table the parole release decision and inform the director of the division of adult parole that the parole plan is inadequate. The director of the division of adult parole shall ensure that a revised parole plan that addresses the deficiencies in the original parole plan is submitted to the parole board within thirty days after the notification. The parole board is responsible for monitoring the department's compliance with this provision and shall notify the director of the division of adult parole if a revised parole plan is not submitted to the parole board within thirty days. The state board of parole may set the length of the period of parole for any time period up to the date of final discharge as determined in accordance with section
17-22.5-402
. If an application for parole is refused by the state board of parole, the state board of parole shall reconsider within one year thereafter whether such inmate should be granted parole. The state board of parole shall continue such reconsideration each year thereafter until such inmate is granted parole or until such inmate is discharged pursuant to law; except that:
(a)
If the inmate applying for parole was convicted of any class 3 sexual offense described in part 4 of article
3
of title
18
, C.R.S., a habitual criminal offense as defined in section
18-1.3-801
(2.5), C.R.S., or of any offense subject to the requirements of section
18-1.3-904
, C.R.S., the board need only reconsider granting parole to such inmate once every three years, until the board grants such inmate parole or until such inmate is discharged pursuant to law; or
(b)
If the inmate was convicted of a class 1 or class 2 felony that constitutes a crime of violence, as defined in section
18-1.3-406
, C.R.S., the board need only reconsider granting parole to such inmate once every five years, until the board grants such inmate parole or until such inmate is discharged pursuant to law.
(6)
For persons who are granted parole pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, the division of adult parole shall provide parole supervision and assistance in securing employment, housing, and such other services as may effect the successful reintegration of such offender into the community while recognizing the need for public safety. The conditions for parole for any such offender under this subsection (6) shall be established pursuant to section
17-22.5-404
by the state board of parole prior to such offender's release from incarceration. Upon a determination in a parole revocation proceeding that the conditions of parole have been violated, the state board of parole shall continue the parole in effect, modify the conditions of parole if circumstances then shown to exist require such modifications, which circumstances shall be set forth in writing, or revoke the parole and order the return of the offender to a place of confinement designated by the executive director for any period of time up to the period remaining on such person's sentence, including the remainder of the offender's natural life if applicable, until the discharge date as determined by section
17-22.5-402
or one year, whichever is longer. In computing the period of reincarceration for an offender other than an offender sentenced for a nonviolent felony offense, as defined in section
17-22.5-405 (5)
, the time between the offender's release on parole and return to custody in Colorado for revocation of such parole shall not be considered to be part of the term of the sentence. The state board of parole may discharge an offender granted parole under this section at any time during the term of parole upon a determination that the offender has been sufficiently rehabilitated and reintegrated into society and can no longer benefit from parole supervision.
(7)
(a)
For any offender who is incarcerated for an offense committed on or after July 1, 1993, upon application for parole, the state board of parole, working in conjunction with the department and using the guidelines established pursuant to section
17-22.5-404
, shall determine whether or not to grant parole. The state board of parole, if it determines that placing an offender on parole is appropriate, shall set the length of the period of parole at the mandatory period of parole established in section
18-1.3-401 (1)(a)(V)
or
18-1.3-401.5 (2)(a)
, C.R.S., except as otherwise provided for specified offenses in section
17-2-201 (5)(a), (5)
(a.5), and (5)(a.7).
(b)
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (7), for any sex offender, as defined in section
18-1.3-1003 (4)
, C.R.S., who is sentenced pursuant to the provisions of part 10 of article
1.3
of title
18
, C.R.S., for commission of a sex offense committed on or after November 1, 1998, the state board of parole shall determine whether or not to grant parole as provided in section
18-1.3-1006
, C.R.S. If the state board of parole determines that placing a sex offender on parole is appropriate, it shall set an indeterminate period of parole as provided in section
18-1.3-1006
, C.R.S.
(c)
If the state board of parole does not grant parole pursuant to subsection (7)(a) or (7)(b) of this section because it finds an inmate's parole plan inadequate, it shall table the parole release decision and inform the director of the division of adult parole that the parole plan is inadequate. The director of the division of adult parole shall ensure that a revised parole plan that addresses the deficiencies in the original parole plan is submitted to the parole board within thirty days after the notification. The parole board is responsible for monitoring the department's compliance with this provision and shall notify the director of the division of adult parole if a revised parole plan is not submitted to the parole board within thirty days.
(8)
(a)
For persons who are granted parole pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section, the division of adult parole shall provide parole supervision and assistance in securing employment, housing, and such other services as may affect the successful reintegration of such offender into the community while recognizing the need for public safety. The conditions for parole for any such offender under this paragraph (a) shall be established pursuant to section
17-22.5-404
by the state board of parole prior to such offender's release from incarceration. Upon a determination that the conditions of parole have been violated in a parole revocation proceeding, the state board of parole shall continue the parole in effect, modify the conditions of parole if circumstances then shown to exist require such modifications, which circumstances shall be set forth in writing, or revoke the parole and order the return of the offender to a place of confinement designated by the executive director for any period of time up to the period remaining on such person's mandatory period of parole established in section
18-1.3-401 (1)(a)(V)
or
18-1.3-401.5 (2)(a)
, C.R.S. Any offender who has been reincarcerated due to a parole revocation pursuant to this paragraph (a) shall be eligible for parole at any time during such reincarceration. The state board of parole may discharge an offender granted parole under this section at any time during the term of parole upon a determination that the offender has been sufficiently rehabilitated and reintegrated into society and can no longer benefit from parole supervision. In making any such determination, the state board of parole shall make written findings as to why such offender is no longer in need of parole supervision.
(b)
For sex offenders, as defined in section
18-1.3-1003 (4)
, C.R.S., who are convicted of an offense committed on or after November 1, 1998, and who are granted parole pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of this section, the division of adult parole shall provide parole supervision and assistance in securing employment, housing, and such other services as may affect the successful reintegration of the sex offender into the community while recognizing the need for public safety. The conditions for parole for any sex offender shall be established pursuant to section
18-1.3-1006
, C.R.S., and section
17-22.5-404
by the state board of parole prior to the sex offender's release from incarceration. Upon a determination in a parole revocation proceeding that the sex offender has violated the conditions of parole, the state board of parole shall continue the parole in effect, modify the conditions of parole if circumstances then shown to exist require such modifications, which circumstances shall be set forth in writing, or revoke the parole and order the return of the sex offender to a place of confinement designated by the executive director for any period of time up to the remainder of the sex offender's natural life. The revocation hearing shall be held and the state board of parole shall make its determination as provided in section
18-1.3-1010
, C.R.S. The state board of parole may discharge a sex offender from parole as provided in section
18-1.3-1006 (3)
, C.R.S.
(9)
The state board of parole shall consider the parole of a person whose parole is revoked either for a technical violation or based on a self-revocation at least once within one hundred eighty days after the revocation if the person's release date is more than nine months from the date of the person's revocation; except that a person whose parole is revoked based on a technical violation that involved the use of a weapon shall not be considered for parole for one year.
Amended by 2021 Ch. 136, § 34, eff. 10/1/2021.
Amended by 2019 Ch. 286, § 6, eff. 5/28/2019.
Amended by 2017 Ch. 394, § 5, eff. 8/9/2017.
Amended by 2016 Ch. 352, § 3, eff. 8/10/2016.
Amended by 2015 Ch. 37, § 5, eff. 3/20/2015.
Amended by 2013 Ch. 333, § 49, eff. 10/1/2013.
L. 90: Entire part added, p. 947, § 19, effective June 7. L. 93: (1) amended, p. 1730, § 11, effective July 1; entire section amended, p. 1978, § 4, effective July 1. L. 94: (5) and (7) amended, p. 2597, § 7, effective June 3. L. 95: (6) amended, p. 878, § 13, effective May 24. L. 98: (9) added, p. 1445, § 37, effective July 1; (7) and (8) amended, p. 1291, § 12, effective November 1. L. 2000: (6), (8), and (9)(c) amended, p. 854, § 63, effective May 24. L. 2002: (7)(a) amended, p. 125, § 3, effective March 26; (2), (3), (5), (7)(a), (7)(b), (8)(a), (8)(b), and (9)(a) amended, p. 1504, § 164, effective October 1. L. 2003: (2) amended, p. 975, § 10, effective April 17; (7)(a) amended, p. 813, § 2, effective July 1; (9) amended, p. 2677, § 4, effective July 1. L. 2004: (2) and (3) amended and (2.5) and (3.5) added, p. 1739, § 1, effective June 4. L. 2008: (6) amended, p. 1756, § 5, effective July 1. L. 2013: (1), (7)(a), and (8)(a) amended, (SB 13-250), ch. 1932, p.1932, § 49, effective October 1. L. 2015: (5), (6), (7), and (8)(b) amended, (HB 15 -1122), ch. 89, p. 89, § 5, effective March 20. L. 2016: (2)(c) added, (SB 16-181), ch. 1449, p. 1449, § 3, effective June 10; (4.5) added, (SB 16-180), ch. 1443, p. 1443, § 3, effective August 10. L. 2017: IP(5) amended, (HB 17-1326), ch. 2030, p. 2030, § 5, effective August 9. L. 2019: IP(5) amended and (7)(c) added, (SB 19-143), ch. 2660, p. 2660, § 6, effective May 28. L. 2021: (2)(c)(I) amended, (SB 21-059), ch. 716, p. 716, § 34, effective October 1.
(1) Amendments to this section by House Bill 93-1302 and House Bill 93-1088 were harmonized. Amendments to subsection (7)(a) by House Bill 02-1223 and House Bill 02-1046 were harmonized, effective October 1, 2002.
(2) Subsection (2)(c)(II)(B) provided for the repeal of subsection (2)(c)(II), effective one year after June 10, 2016. (See L. 2016, p. 1449.)
For the legislative declaration contained in the 2002 act amending subsections (2), (3), (5), (7)(a), (7)(b), (8)(a), (8)(b), and (9)(a), see section 1 of chapter 318, Session Laws of Colorado 2002. For the legislative declaration in HB 15-1122, see section 1 of chapter 37, Session Laws of Colorado 2015. For the legislative declaration in SB 16-180, see section 1 of chapter 352, Session Laws of Colorado 2016. For the legislative declaration in HB 17-1326, see section 1 of chapter 394, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.