Bill would change earned time in Colorado prisons

A legislative proposal would give Colorado prisons the power to revoke the earned time of inmates for any reason or if they have committed a violent crime while incarcerated.

The bill is another response to the problems highlighted by the case of Evan Ebel, the sole suspect in the murder of Department of Corrections Director Tom Clements last year.

Ebel received 115 days of earned time, even though he was cited 28 times for offenses that included fighting and assault. Under current law, certain earned time cannot be revoked. But the Republican-sponsored bill given initial approval Thursday in the House would allow the DOC to revoke earned time.

Ebel was also released four years early because of a clerical error. Lawmakers addressed that issue last year.