DENVER — The Colorado House Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to move forward with legislation that would ban members of the state’s sex offender management board from profiting from the treatment requirements they set.
The sex offender management board, also known as the SOMB, sets the standards and procedures for supervision and treatment of convicted sex offenders in the state.
Last year, Contact7 Investigates explored allegations of a conflict of interest within the board when it comes to polygraph testing mandated for offenders.
Public records show the polygraph company owned by board member Jeff Jenks consistently receives the largest share of public money spent on the testing. Jenks denies having a conflict of interest, saying his seat on the SOMB actually costs him business because of the time the volunteer position demands.
Bravo to Colorado for finally doing something about this debilitating practice.
Shame on California for apathetically allowing it to continue.
Actually Tom Tobin of Sharper Future was kicked off the California SOMB and his for-profit therapy outfit lost its state contract for San Francisco. The conflict of interest was real.
When did this occur?
December 2017 I believe
Yes, it certainly is all about the money. For example, $2,000,000 for Colorado’s polygraph program:
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/05/09/colorado-bill-sex-offender-management-board-financial-benefit/
Sorry, but victim reps can lobby the board from outside the board as well as they can legislature. Same is said for those who were convicted and trying to better their life. Conflicts of Interest such as this, e.g. owning this type of business or a vested interest on the topic, and being on a board just looks and acts bad. If there is one entity, there needs to be the opposing entity to ensure equal chances of voices being heard. (Frankly, Jenks (not to be confused with Jenksie from Meet the Fockers) should return the money he has received… Read more »