Denver Sheriff Department

History and structure

The Denver Sheriff Department was established on December 2, 1902, at the same time as the City and County of Denver. Initially, the department was tasked with providing security in the courts and the county jail, as well as policing. Police duties were later shifted to the Denver Police Department.

Most of the department's current structure was defined in the late 1960s. It continues to be tasked with providing security in jails and courts, but its lack of responsibility for policing makes it unique among Colorado's sheriff departments. The department is overseen by the executive director of safety and the sheriff; both positions are appointed by the mayor.

Responsibilities

The department's current responsibilities include:

Divisions

The department is composed of the Office of the Sheriff and two divisions:

Substance abuse

In early February 2014, the Denver Sheriff Department introduced a new evidence-based substance abuse curriculum that combined models from Thinking for a Change (T4C) and SMART Recovery. The curriculum, developed by both sworn and civilian staff, replaced the Drug and Alcohol Abuse class.

RISE program

Also focused on inmates with substance addictions, RISE is an intensive jail-to-community program with the capacity to serve 36 to 64 inmates in each housing area. Its curriculum is based on elements of social learning theory, the 12-step philosophy, cognitive behavior strategies, and life skills. The program aims to provide tools for recovery and to foster self-efficacy in a peer-to-peer learning environment.

The men's RISE program began in July 2011, and the women's in December of the same year. Among both genders, the recidivism rate for graduates of the program is substantially lower than for other inmates.

Men's RISE unit

The men's program focuses on offenders with DUI-related charges and those struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. Inmates are referred to the program by the Drug Court, Sobriety Court, and offender volunteers. The goal is to reduce the number of substance-abuse-related arrests by providing peer-based recovery services.

Although the program is structured as peer-to-peer, offender facilitators are supported by program staff and sworn staff (because of their direct supervision role in the jail system). Staff members offer assessment through observation, provide reassurance, and help evaluate program practices and expectations.

In 2014, the program enrolled 266 individuals. By the end of that year, 152 (57%) had graduated.

Women's RISE unit

The women's program serves offenders with substance abuse issues, co-occurring disorders related to past trauma, and/or mental health issues. The Drug Court or Sobriety Court may refer offenders who have been sentenced to county jail for charges related to DUI or substance abuse. Offenders may also volunteer to participate in RISE.

Several local mental health and substance abuse organizations are contracted to provide therapeutic services for RISE, including life skills training, trauma therapy, and transition services.

In 2014, 156 women were enrolled in the program, with 71 (45.5%) graduating as of December 31.

GED program and computer lab

In 2014, the department suspended its GED testing process while transitioning to a new national testing system. A computer lab was built at the Denver County Jail to accommodate the new GED curriculum and testing process, which is completely computer-based. The lab allows for 10 GED candidates to test at one time. During the transition, the department continued to provide GED classes.

In November 2014, officials began allowing individuals housed in the Special Management Transition Units to attend GED classes with general-population participants of the same classification level. This policy change opened GED classes to inmates whose risk level might have previously prevented them from participating.

Future programs

Programs being considered for the future include:

Achievements

On November 20, 2013, the National Sheriff's Association presented the Triple Crown Award to the Denver Sheriff Department, making it one of only 35 sheriff's departments to receive the award since it was established in 1993. The Triple Crown Award recognizes sheriff's offices that achieve simultaneous accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the American Correctional Association, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.

Misconduct

In July 2010, suspect Marvin Louis Booker was tackled by five sheriff's deputies, put in a headlock, handcuffed, and then tased. Shortly after, he went into cardio-respiratory arrest and died. The City and County of Denver did not bring criminal charges against the officers. However, in a civil trial in 2014, the officers were found liable, and the Booker family was awarded $4.65 million in damages.

In October 2012, Deputy Bruce Mitchell released Elvie Bellamy, an inmate who was supposed to be transferred to another facility. The jail staff did not notify the police or other agencies, instead attempting to recapture the prisoner themselves. They arrested, then released, another man who resembled Bellamy. This was the third time Deputy Mitchell had mistakenly released a prisoner. He was suspended for four weeks.

In December 2013, a report by Nicholas Mitchell, Denver's independent monitor, indicated that the department had not been investigating all allegations of prisoner abuse at the jail, as required by law. The report also indicated that the jail staff used tasers on uncooperative prisoners.

In January 2014, Deputy Matthew Andrews was sentenced to six years in prison for helping a prisoner escape from jail. Andrews allowed the prisoner to wear his uniform to leave the facility.

In February 2014, Deputy Brady Lovingier was suspended for thirty days after an unprovoked attack on a heavily-restrained prisoner two years earlier. The attack took place in front of a judge, in a courtroom, and was recorded on video. Lovingier, the son of the previous sheriff, appealed his suspension. While awaiting a decision on his appeal, Lovingier was assigned to train other deputies on the use of force. In an official statement, Sheriff Gary Wilson said he did not know Lovingier was teaching the class.

In late July 2014, Sheriff Wilson resigned under pressure from the mayor to end abuse at the jail.