Sponsor urges 768‑bed Gunnison expansion as prison population nears capacity

Representative Lisenby presented a request for a 768‑bed expansion at the Gunnison CUCF site after working‑group forecasts showed the state reaching operational capacity in coming years. He cited maximum system capacity of 7,220 beds, an emergency‑release threshold at about 7,076 beds (98% of maximum) and the committee’s current occupancy near 91.3%.

Sponsor testimony stressed timelines: getting shovels in the ground and hiring staff takes two to three years, so construction must begin now to meet projected demand. A projected cost figure raised in committee discussion—about $130 million—drew questions and concern from members who asked whether the state should prioritize rehabilitation and recidivism‑reduction programming instead of new beds. The sponsor responded that audits and working‑group data indicate the state needs additional capacity to avoid emergency releases and maintain public safety.

Committee members debated trade‑offs between building capacity and investing further in reentry and rehabilitation programs; the hearing closed with offers from the sponsor to provide deeper datasets to members. No final appropriation was made at the meeting.