Save Colorado Correctional Industries Flagship Saddle Program

Save Colorado Correctional Industries Flagship Saddle Program

Started
July 7, 2020
Signatures: 242Next Goal: 500
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Why this petition matters

Started by Jamie Evan

For those of you who aren't aware, Colorado Correctional Institutes runs an industrial program (Colorado Correctional Industries, or Cci)  where inmates learn a trade while making at least state minimum wage. This helps support themselves and their families, while gaining valuable skills to take with them after their stay. Cci has a leather and saddlery program among many others. I have always strongly believed in the program and was told by the workers that the saddlery program it's a favorite and a highly sought-after opportunity. Until recently, I have always felt certain that it was being run with moral and ethical integrity and ultimately helps the inmates. 

It was just announced, out of the blue, that the Cci's saddlery program is closing their doors on August 31, 2020.

The leather and saddlery program is CCi's flagship program, having been the first of its kind and in operation for over 25 years. The craftsmen in the shop take immense pride in their work and hone their craft for years. Many will now be made to move to a new facility and only some will be given other menial job opportunities. This has been described as devastating by many within the shop at all levels.

The reason given for the closure of the saddle shop is because it has not been profitable. Information has been provided to us that calls into question that the reasoning for the closing is, in fact, financial.  At this time, I cannot disclose details for which I, and others, have been made aware, but, if true, we believe causes reason to be investigated further. If it is financial, we have not been given any notice or ability to work something out to continue the program--which all of us are willing and want to do.

I, along with the other saddle companies' owners, who depend on the saddlery program for our livelihoods, have banded together to pressure the decision-makers from the Governor of Colorado, to the warden, and directors of the Industrial Program and the Dept of Corrections. We held off on making an official announcement until after a conference call today with decision-makers and are now convinced they have no appetite to keep the saddlery program open. We were hoping to be granted an extension, and us saddle companies are willing to help in any way we can facilitate the saddlery's long-term sustainability. The proposed "plan" laid out on our call made it plain to all of us that there was no real effort or dialogue to keep the saddlery program open, even though it would make huge impacts on our small, independent businesses, the workers, and the taxpayers of Colorado.

Please sign our petition to put pressure on those at the top in Colorado to keep the saddlery program's doors open. These programs are supposed to help everyone, including every citizen of Colorado, including the inmates they were designed assist.

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Signatures: 242Next Goal: 500
Support now
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Decision Makers

  • Jared PolisGovernor of Colorado
  • David LindsayDirection of Colorado Correctional Industries
  • Dean WilliamsDirector of Colorado Department of Corrections
  • Jared PolisGovernor of Colorado
  • Jason LengerichWarden of Buena Vista Correctional Facility