Centennial Correctional Facility

The Inmate Drug Reduction Program (IDRP) is a program in Fremont and Chaffee Counties designed to monitor and treat inmates who have drug problems. It's a cooperative effort between the District Attorney's Office and the Department of Corrections.

Statistics clearly show that most inmates are in prison because they committed a drug-related crime, or they were under the influence of illegal drugs when they committed their crime that led them to be incarcerated.

Four years ago, we recognized the problem of drugs in prison and we were instrumental in creating a law that made it illegal to use marijuana in prison. Simply stated, most inmates will be released from prison at some point in time and most will continue to abuse drugs unless they take advantage of drug treatment. The IDRP attempts to provide drug treatment to an inmate so that upon his release, he would be less likely to relapse and end up back in prison for a new crime.

Here's how the IDRP works: Once an inmate is charged with unlawful use of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, or other controlled substances, he is allowed to plead guilty with a deferred sentence. As part of the plea agreement, he must agree to be monitored for use of illegal drugs. The present mode of monitoring is to submit a sample of his hair to a lab for scientific testing. Further, he is required to successfully complete a drug treatment program within the DOC. If he fails to do so or his drug test comes up positive, then he will face additional DOC time upon the court revoking his deferred sentence.