“They told me I’d get $100. I left with $40 and a bus token — that didn’t even get me through the first day.”
“This is dignity. It’s the difference between restarting and spiraling.”
“ The mental burden that is lifted and the confidence that a person gets simply by having ID and a little bit of money is a true difference maker.”
"We must ensure people have the absolute basics so that they have the opportunity for successful reentry."
-Representative Jamie Jackson, HD41 Arapahoe
Colorado’s gate money policy is intended to provide nominal support to people leaving incarceration.
Yet residents observe inconsistent access and implementation.
So in 2025, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) launched a reentry survey to:
Document real experiences with gate money at release
Identify implementation gaps within CDOC
Center lived experience to inform policy and budget advocacy
We received more than 120+ responses statewide from people released from incarceration within the Colorado Department of Corrections.
What we learned:
Only 1 in 3 respondents reported receiving gate money at release.
People cited several process-related gaps:
Staff forgetting to process funds
Staff claims of releasee’s ineligibilty
Missing documentation
Releases on weekends or holidays with no processing
Average amount received: $33. Far below the commonly understood $100 allowance.
Why this matters:
Gate money is one of the lowest-cost, highest-impact reentry supports available.
When inconsistently applied—or withheld—it deepens instability at the most critical moment of reentry.
Support the Reentry Readiness Act
Organizations: Use the button on the right to complete the form and show your support for the Reentry Readiness Act (Rep. Jackson).
For questions, e-mail Zach Klos zklos@ceoworks.org.
Meet the Advocates
-
![]()
Matrice
-
![]()
Heather
-
![]()
Carmen
-
![]()
Bella
-
![]()
Demetrius
-
![]()
Thanh
-
![]()
Kari
-
![]()
Anthony
Learn More
The survey was distributed by the Center for Employment Opportunities in partnership with other community-based organizations across Colorado between March 1st - September 30th, 2025. For more information, contact Simone Price at sprice@ceoworks.org
“Poverty and recidivism are inextricably linked...formerly incarcerated individuals need access to resources like reentry cash and workforce training to earn a living wage and stop the poverty to prison pipeline.”