• Boulder County's new alternative sentencing facility is now open.
• The facility has been named the Joe Pelle Center in honor of retired Sheriff Joe Pelle.
• To receive this information in another language, email Gloria Handyside ghandyside@bouldercounty.gov.

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County officials, staff, and community partners gathered on Friday, Oct. 24 for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the official naming of the Joe Pelle Center -- the county’s new alternative sentencing facility, focused on rehabilitation, accountability, and opportunity.

Named for retired Sheriff Joe Pelle, who served Boulder County for 20 years from 2003 to 2023, the center recognizes his enduring leadership, vision, and commitment to humane, community-centered justice.

“The Joe Pelle Center is now officially open and serving the community,” said Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann. “Thanks to the generosity of Boulder County voters and the hard work and dedication of county staff, the new alternative sentencing facility will serve the people in the facility and the wider community by creating a better future for everyone. It brings to Boulder County a community-centered approach to public safety – an approach championed by Sheriff Pelle during his two decades of service. This facility will contribute to making Boulder County a leader in providing a more rehabilitative and therapeutic approach to successful community re-entry.”

“It was an honor to serve the Boulder County community as sheriff for so long,” said Sheriff Joe Pelle. “When I learned about alternative sentencing facilities, I couldn’t believe a progressive, intelligent community like Boulder County didn’t have one. To make the case for the benefits of this facility we spoke to everyone from Rotary Clubs to Scout Troops and the voters saw the value and passed the ballot measure with 75% support. I am grateful to be able to hand down to my children and grandchildren the legacy of a terrific facility that bears my name.”

Commenting on the new facility, Sheriff Curtis Johnson said, “The opening of the Joe Pelle Center is exciting and demonstrates our community’s commitment to making positive changes in the criminal justice system. I am hopeful the new facility will help address the challenges we face at the Boulder County Jail and will provide people the support and resources they need to successfully re-enter our community.”

“In Boulder County, we are committed to community safety and, also, working to improve the justice system,” said District Attorney Michael Dougherty. “The opening of the Joe Pelle Center does both. For too long, Colorado has lagged behind other states in the successful rehabilitation of offenders and, throughout the state, community safety suffers as a result. The Joe Pelle Center is a great step forward in targeting and addressing the underlying needs of offenders and better preparing them for a successful transition back to the community. This center is the start of an innovative and more effective approach in helping people in custody and enhancing community safety.”

Located on the jail campus in Boulder, the Joe Pelle Center will bring together programs including Day Reporting, Electronic Monitoring, and Work Release in one trauma-informed space. The center’s phased rollout begins in November 2025, with full residential programming expected by January 2026.

Visit the county's website to find out more.