Colorado-CURE
CURE began in San Antonio, Texas in 1972. A dozen citizens, all families of prisoners or concerned citizens, were anxious to make changes to abolish the death penalty and went to the state legislature in Austin to work toward change. In 1975, CURE organized formally with an annual convention and a constitution. In 1985, CURE expanded to become a formal national organization and moved to Washington, D.C. Under the able direction of Charlie and Pauline Sullivan, CURE is recognized as the leading organization making efforts to reduce crime through criminal justice reform. Colorado-CURE was founded in 1990 and many of the original board are still active today.
CO-CURE meets the fourth Wednesday of each month, 7 PM, at the ACLU office, 400 Corona St, Denver, CO 80218. Contact person is Dianne Tramutola-Lawson, (303) 758-3390.
CURE maintains an organized presence in most states, either through state chapters, contact chapters (the first step toward becoming a chapter), or organizations with similar goals who affiliate with CURE.
There are 2.5 million incarcerated in prisons and jails in the United States. Prisoners cannot vote, but their family members and friends can. One of the goals of all CURE chapters is to make sure that everyone knows who their legislators are and to assist them in registering to vote. No vote means no voice.
The members of the National Board of Directors of CURE set policy. Each state chapter elects one board member and one is elected at the national convention. The national board hires the executive director of national CURE. This Board meets once a year. Every other year, CURE’s national chair, vice-chair and secretary, called the Executive Committee, are elected from the active board members and by the same board members. The day-to-day decisions for operation are made by the executive director, with the approval and backing of the executive committee. National CURE publishes a newsletter quarterly from its office in Washington, D.C., which is sent to all chapter members.
Colorado-CURE’s board of directors is required by its constitution and by-laws to meet annually. Should changes to policy be required, a meeting of the board is called by the chair person.
Colorado-CURE supports many of the issues recognized as priorities by National CURE:
- Abolition of the death penalty.
- Compensation to crime victims.
- Moratorium on prison construction
- More community corrections placement.
- More and better job training and education for prisoners.
- Reform of the sentencing laws such as mandatory sentencing.
- Enhancement of prisoner/family relationships.
- Quality legal aid for indigent criminal defendants.
- Improvement of reintegration services for prisoners returning to society.
- Access in prison to treatment for medical/psychological problems.
- Constitutional conditions of confinement.
- Removing racism from application of the death penalty.
- Voting in federal elections by all probationers and parolees.
- Improvement of the availability of veterans’ benefits and services to incarcerated veterans.
- Encouraging prison-based businesses.
- Increasing awareness of the special needs of women prisoners.
- Stronger enforcement of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA).
- Supporting professional accreditation for all correctional entities.
- Utilizing a pro-family policy in regard to the Interstate Corrections Compact.
- Prisoners at a distance from their families would apply for transfer to a prison system in the same state as their loved ones.
- Seeking effective drug treatment on request in the community and in prison (CURE is a member of a network that monitors the president’s war on drugs).
- Eliminating discrimination in employment for a felon if nature of job does not relate to his or her crime.
National CURE has aided in passing legislation that:
- Allows states to make pregnant prisoners eligible for WIC (Women, Infants and Children), a federal program providing special food assistance.
- Asks states receiving federal funds for juvenile justice to file an annual report on the “number of juveniles who died while in custody and the circumstances under which they died.” · Keeps funding in federal prison budget for inmate parent/child programs (MATCH model).
- Renews the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (and keeping the ex-offenders in TJTC).
- Authorizes and funds demonstration projects for treatment and prevention of sex offenses.
- Increases educational programs in prisons and jails.
Defeating legislation that:
- Expands the federal death penalty.
Implementing legislation that:
- Mandates social security caseworkers to help process food stamp applications from soon-to-be released prisoners who apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
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