DCJ Funding Launched Boulder County Sheriff's 1st Reentry Housing Program

Reentering society after incarceration is never easy and for many reentering communities, finding safe and stable housing is the greatest challenge. The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) funding helped the Boulder County Sheriff's launch something that had never existed before: a structured program that connects individuals leaving jail with the housing and support they need to succeed.

This DCJ grant-funded initiative, established during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, laid the foundation for Boulder County Sheriff’s first formal reentry housing support program. The program combines transitional housing assistance with wraparound services like therapy, case management, and release planning—starting while individuals are still in custody. Each participant works with a reentry specialist and therapist to plan for life post-release, whether that means moving into sober living, residential treatment, or their own apartment.

DCJ’s investment, through the Delinquency Prevention and Young Offenders Intervention Grant Program, that provided Boulder County with the flexibility to tailor the program to local needs. This meant not only adapting to the immediate housing crisis intensified by COVID, but also building a sustainable model rooted in dignity, safety, and care.

And the results speak for themselves: More than 150 individuals have participated in the program, and 84% of those who received housing support have remained out of jail.

The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, part of the Department of Public Safety, administers millions of dollars in state and federal grant funding each year to programs that promote safer communities, reduce recidivism, and uplift victims and survivors. From youth services to domestic violence prevention, victim compensation to community corrections, DCJ’s reach spans across six offices dedicated to improving lives through evidence-based support.

This story is one of many. It shows what’s possible when public safety meets compassion, and when funding is used not just to respond to crime—but to prevent it.

To learn more about DCJ’s programs, funding opportunities, and community investments, visit https://dcj.colorado.gov.



For further information about these stories, contact:
Paula Vargas
Director of Strategic Communications
[email protected]

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