Proposition 128

Increase the amount of prison time a person convicted of certain crimes of violence must serve before becoming eligible for discretionary parole or earned time reductions; and make a person convicted of a third crime of violence ineligible for discretionary parole or earned time reductions.

This initiative removes the opportunity for convicted people to achieve earned time,
giving them less incentive to comply with prison rules or take advantage of rehabilitation opportunities offered in prison. The prison population will grow if this initiative passes, costing the state an extra $28 million, and will require additional staff when many prisons are already short-staffed and have difficulty recruiting and retaining employees. There is no evidence that the measure will reduce crime rates, nor that increased penalties deter crime in general. Colorado should instead invest in addressing the root causes of crime, including income inequality and a lack of community resources.