As I have attended the Joint Budget Committee hearings, I have come to understand even more the issues that face Colorado.
Prisons and youth detention homes are very expensive to manage and maintain. I had the opportunity during the summer to interview some of the inmates of some of our youth detention facilities. One 21-year-old man comes to mind. He was covered with tattoos but was respectful and intelligent and was open in talking to us.
His mother was in jail and he had no idea who his father was. He had been in gangs and had never had a job. The reasons for him being in the detention center were pretty serious, but he was about to be released for good behavior. He had learned some skills while detained. He had no home to go to upon release, and he had no job lined up even though the Department of Human Services was attempting to find him one.
This young man could be very productive in society, but because of his circumstances, the odds are very high that he will reoffend, end up in prison and continue to be a burden to Colorado taxpayers. There are thousands of young people just like this young man in Colorado.
How can we keep young people out of trouble in the first place? My first thought is that the family unit must be strengthened, but that does not always happen. That is why I am very supportive of the high school “apprentice program” that has been initiated and supported by businesses in Colorado. I have been told that it is being tested in Denver this year.
These businesses are concerned about having an educated and trained workforce for the future. The apprentice program will allow young people to get a job while in school. They will learn a trade, learn to work, learn to earn money by having a job, learn to save money and learn many other of life’s lessons for success. Students will be ready for the workforce, and in many cases, will already have a job when they graduate. This program will help all students across Colorado, but it may be especially helpful for young people, like the one I described above, to have a chance in life.
The program will be funded by businesses and within the K-12 budget. There may be a need to modify state high school requirements to allow for such a program. If we can indeed give these young people hope, keep them out of trouble and ultimately keep them out of prison, the result will be a huge tax savings for the taxpayers of Colorado today and in the future as these young people become better parents.
Debbie and I want to thank all of you who supported us and voted for us in the election and wish you all a Happy New Year!
J. Paul Brown represents House District 59 in Colorado’s General Assembly, until Wednesday, when Barbara McLachlan will be sworn in as his successor. The district encompasses La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan, Ouray and Hinsdale counties and part of Gunnison County. Reach him at jpaul.brown.house@state.co.us.
