On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the Board of County Commissioners voted 2-1 to name the county’s new alternative sentencing facility after former Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle.
The minimum-security facility is designed to hold about 250 people in diversion or work-release programs, as well as those transitioning from incarceration. Adjacent to the Boulder County Jail, the facility broke ground last year and will offer substance use and behavioral health treatment. Funded by a 2018 voter-approved sales tax and championed by Pelle and many others, the project aims to create safer conditions and provide a cost-effective alternative to incarcerating people charged with low-level offenses. Funding to open and operate the facility depends on the ongoing county budget process for 2025.
The vote had been up in the air because Pelle is still living. Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann noted that the commissioners recently introduced guidance discouraging naming buildings after people. However, this policy change came after the proposal to honor Pelle was submitted. Stolzmann cast the deciding vote, joining Commissioner Claire Levy in favor. Commissioner Marta Loachamin voted against it, advocating for a name that would honor Indigenous communities instead.
Pelle served as Boulder County’s sheriff from 2002 to 2022. A group of community members began petitioning commissioners about a year ago to name the facility after Pelle. His supporters have highlighted his strong crisis management skills, including his leadership during the 2021 Marshall Fire, and his frequent legislative consultations on law enforcement issues. Describing him as a Democrat among colleagues with differing views, they noted he successfully worked across political lines and earned respect from sheriffs statewide.
“I have received remarkable written testimony from community members all around Boulder County from people telling stories about how Joe Pelle changed their lives,” Stolzmann said. “ I’m confident if we went to a statistically valid vote, that community members would be excited to name a building after Joe Pelle and I have gotten quite a lot of feedback to that effect.”
Very intriguing. Would be good to know when the details mentioned above will be determined – like the level of mental health and substance abuse treatment and who will be eligible to access it. Not sure if this will be evident from the budget alone.