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Denver's Roads to Recovery reports fewer jail bookings and increased service connections
Summary
Roads to Recovery, an 18‑month pilot in Denver, reported reduced jail bookings and days for participants, more time between bookings and over 400 service connections across 80-plus providers. City staff said the program has about 300 people involved, roughly 150 active on intensive case-management caseloads, and estimated jail-bed-day savings of
Denver’s Roads to Recovery initiative told the Community Planning and Housing Committee on Aug. 26 that participants in the 18‑month program have fewer jail bookings and more service contacts after enrollment, and staff cited early cost savings tied to reduced jail-bed days.
Why it matters: Committee members and staff said the program aims to break cycles of repeated arrests and emergency health care use by pairing street engagement with intensive case management and direct payment for needed services.
Program scope and model: Erin Atencio, director of Roads to Recovery in the mayor’s office, said the program works with people who have complex needs — physical and behavioral health, substance use and frequent justice-system contact — and seeks to move them out of the “doom loop” of repeated arrests and short jail stays. Roads teams include street-engagement outreach in partnership with Denver Police Department, HOST outreach teams, public nurses and substance-use navigators, Atencio said. Intensive case managers provide high‑touch wraparound services and mobile supports.
Scale and outcomes: Data presented by Ryan Bronson showed about 300 people involved over 18 months and roughly 150 clients currently active on intensive case‑management caseloads. Staff reported a decrease in bookings per person (about 2.2 fewer bookings per person per year on average) and a decrease in jail days per person (roughly one month fewer per person per year after enrollment). Bronson also said the average days between bookings increased by about 83 days after enrollment; about a quarter of participants had no jail stays after enrolling, down from an average 83 days in jail per year before enrollment.
Service connections and providers: Staff reported more than 400 service connections with more than 80 providers. Major partners listed included Denver Health and several community providers; staff also said more than 60 smaller providers had served fewer clients each. Roads staff reported almost 8,000 successful contacts with clients and said about 40% of days spent indoors by clients were at All In Mile High sites.
Cost and savings: When asked about costs, staff provided a per‑unit estimate for jail bed days: “The estimate for 1 marginal day in jail … is about $250,” Bronson said. Using that figure, the team offered a rough estimate of about $900,000 in jail‑bed‑day savings over the last 18 months for the Roads population. Staff and council members said they want fuller financial accounting for program costs and savings as the city approaches budget season.
Use cases and stories: Program staff described individual participant stories to illustrate how rapid placement, behavioral health engagement and community supports changed outcomes for people with long histories of arrests and jail days.
Limitations and provider capacity: Staff noted provider capacity varies — some providers have quick intakes and contracts, others have wait lists and no contract with the city — and that the program convenes a quarterly community of practice to coordinate access, solve barriers and share flexible options for placements and payments.
What’s next: Roads staff said they will continue to refine data collection and to provide cost information requested by council. Committee members asked for retention and demographic views of outcomes; staff said those views are possible and agreed to follow up.
