House committee advances bill to make social visitation a statutory right for people in Colorado prisons

Rep. Leslie English introduced House Bill 1013 on behalf of herself and Assistant Majority Leader AML Bacon, urging the House Judiciary Committee to adopt a law that would make in-person visits, phone calls and video calls for people in state prisons a right rather than a privilege.

“When people in prison maintain regular contact with their families, everyone benefits,” Rep. English said at the hearing. “These ties decrease misconduct in prison, help individuals cope with stress, and foster optimism about leaving prison.”

The bill would require the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) to treat social visitation as a right that may be limited only for routine facility operations or safety reasons. It also sets out that reasonable notice of life events — for example, births or funerals — should trigger “all efforts” by CDOC to enable participation, and it preserves existing administrative grievance processes for challenges to denials.

Why it matters

Supporters said the bill is intended to reduce recidivism and protect family bonds that advocates say are essential to rehabilitation. Several witnesses cited recent academic…