On October 24, Boulder County is set to open its new alternative sentencing facility, the Joe Pelle Center, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that the community, partners, and media are invited to attend from 1 to 3 p.m. at the center located on 3260 Airport Rd., Boulder, according to Boulder County.
The Center, named after former Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle, who advocated for programs beyond incarceration during his 2003-2022 tenure, aims to deliver residential and non-residential programs focused on mental health and substance-use treatment, along with education and job support. This establishment, the realization of a voter-approved sales and use tax, comes as a part of Boulder County’s broader strategy to employ restorative justice and provide those in the criminal justice system with opportunities for rehabilitation, and the center previously went by the name Alternative Sentencing Facility (ASF), "represents Boulder County’s commitment to compassionate, effective justice offering meaningful alternatives to incarceration that help people rebuild their lives and strengthen community safety by providing accountability and support to successful reentry," Monica Alix Rotner, Division Manager of Community Justice Services said, as obtained by Boulder County.
During the opening ceremony, county leaders are set to give speeches about the center's mission and its potential to enhance public safety, followed by a ribbon-cutting photo event; after which, tours of the facility will be available for attendees. The creation and opening of this center underscore a significant investment by the local community in creating pathways to reintegration over imprisonment, as evidenced by the strong approval of the 2018 ballot initiative that funded such county projects.
