Colorado lawmakers grill youth prison officials after jailbreak, assaults

Under fire after a recent jailbreak and a rash of assaults behind bars, Gov. John Hickenlooper’s youth corrections agency faced pointed criticism Monday from state lawmakers who are demanding changes.

The questions came as state budget writers consider whether to give the Division of Youth Corrections an extra $6.1 million in the next two years for 125 more guards to address safety issues and new federal staffing mandates.