By C1 Staff
DENVER — A recent survey found widespread dissatisfaction among Colorado parole officers, even after two years of parole-reform initiatives.
The Denver Post reports that the survey, by Colorado WINS, said that 82 percent of officers were considering leaving their jobs due to being overworked, underpaid and underappreciated.
More than 90 percent said they were not compensated fairly.
The survey tracked responses from 77 community parole officers, nearly a third of the workforce.
The survey follows an investigation that found Colorado parolees committed new crimes, used drugs and disappeared for months without being disciplined for their infractions. The investigation uncovered 29 murder cases in which parolees violated conditions of their release or committed a crime and were allowed to remain free.
Gov. John Hickenlooper and the Colorado Department of Corrections persuaded the legislature in 2014 to boost parole spending by $8 million annually, which would be used to hire 80 new employees, reduce caseloads and pay for other reforms.
Other results of the survey included that those participating did not feel that upper management cared about them, that promotions were based on favoritism and that their jobs were very dangerous.