The way justice is meted out in Colorado could change, giving judges more say in habitual offender and sex offender cases, through bills bound for the legislature.

The Sentencing in the Criminal Justice System Interim Study Committee is proposing bills to allow judges more leeway in sentencing to make sure the punishment fits the crime. The bipartisan committee also agreed on a bill to lower the state’s maximum five-year parole sentence to three.

The committee reviewed data that indicated nearly no recidivism in the fourth or fifth year of parole sentences. Nonetheless, the state spends about $6,000 a year to supervise each parolee.

“The Colorado Department of Corrections budget has been increasing faster than many other areas of state spending for many years,” study committee chairman Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, said in a statement. “The crime rate is trending downward, but our prisons are full and the DOC is asking for more money. Without losing sight of our obligation to preserve public safety, we need to be smarter about how we spend the taxpayers’ dollars on corrections, treatment, prevention and restorative justice.”

The committee approved two other bills, one to continue the state Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and the other to authorize that commission to update a 10-year-old report on the effectiveness of criminal sentencing in Colorado.

Last Friday was the sixth and final meeting of the committee that has been holding hearings since July, having heard from more than 60 witnesses.

“High percentages of offenders have substance use issues or mental health issues or both, but incarceration without treatment does not address these conditions or reduce the risk of recidivism,” Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, a member of the committee, stated. “By modernizing Colorado’s criminal justice policies we can make more effective use of our public safety dollars.”

The committee also included Sens. John Cooke, R-Greeley; Daniel Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village; Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud; and Rep. Cole Wist.