Every Colorado newborn baby could soon get $100 for college
"DENVER -- Every newborn baby born in Colorado in 2020 and beyond could soon be entitled to $100 from the state." "That's because state lawmakers gave final approval to HB 1280 on Monday, which allows parents of newborns beginning in 2020 to set up a college savings account with a $100 contribution from Colorado. The contribution will be tax-free." "We are kick-starting their dreams," said Rep. Leslie Herod (D-Denver), a sponsor of the bill in the House. "What we found is tha
Gov. Polis signs bond reform bill
"DENVER - Low-level and non-violent criminals will be held in jail less often, after Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law Thursday." "The law creates new statewide standards that guide judges to hold suspected criminals only when there is a chance they will hurt someone, they are a flight risk, or they may obstruct justice." Read full article #LeslieHerod #criminaljusticereform #cashbond #pettyoffenses #prisonpopulation #cashbailbill #drugpossession #GovernorPolis
Changing the severity of drug charges in Colorado
Read full article #LeslieHerod #criminaljusticereform #pettyoffenses #socialjustice #prisonpopulation #drugpossession #drugtreatment
Bail, jail reforms promise relief for Colorado’s poorest
"The bill also would require the districts to develop new criteria to allow more defendants to be released immediately, with no monetary conditions. That bill will be heard by a Senate committee next week." "The ACLU and others say that one problem with the original bill was its reliance upon risk assessment tools, which have been found by the University of Northern Colorado to be biased. A landmark ProPublica investigation also found bias across the country. Such assessments
Colorado jails can’t hold people accused of low-level crimes in lieu of bail anymore. And that means
"Gov. Jared Polis’ signed a bill Thursday preventing people accused of many low-level offenses — such as petty, traffic or most municipal charges — from being jailed because they can’t pay their cash bail." "That also means people currently locked up in Colorado on those types of charges, who are unable to pay their bail, must be released. At least one county believes there are several people being held in their facility who might be eligible." “If you are thinking about putt
Colorado could restore voting rights to 9,000 felons this year
"A bill moving its way through the Capitol would re-enfranchise felons who are out on parole." "An examination by the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Council found that the bill — House Bill 1266, sponsored by Denver Rep. Leslie Herod in the House and Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg of Boulder — would re-enfranchise at least 9,297 people by June of this year, and hundreds more by 2020. Voters across the state will decide in November on countless municipal issues and cand
Imposing cash bail for minor offenses is no longer an option in Colorado
"The bill was the top item on State Rep. Leslie Herod’s legislative to-do list. She introduced the bill with support from Epps." “This was number one,” Herod said, almost out of breath Thursday after the bill was signed. “When I approached the ACLU, Elisabeth Epps, I said ‘I want to do a bail reform bill and I want Elisabeth Epps on board.” "Herod added that it means if there’s someone before a judge today, the judge can’t sentence them with bail for low-level offenses." "Her
Colorado has one of the best election systems in the country, but Democratic lawmakers want to make
“Young people are the primary beneficiaries of automatic voter registration,” said Lizzy Stephan, executive director of New Era Colorado, a nonprofit that advocates for young voters. “This just streamlines everything and conforms to what voters already expect.” "Colorado Republicans, meanwhile, have raised concern that the proposal may lead to registering non-citizens to vote and removes personal responsibility from voters." "Also making its way through the legislative proces
House passes bill to reduce drug possession penalties
"In Colorado, adults 21 and older can legally possess only one ounce of marijuana at a time for recreational use." “The war on drugs has permanently branded many drug users with felony convictions that make it harder for them to find employment, access housing, and complete treatment, which are critical for a successful recovery,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, a sponsor of the bill. “It has devastated communities of color in my district and throughout Colorado. Lowering t
Pretrial services program bill clears another hurdle
"On any given day in Colorado, 13,000 Coloradans are in jail for pretrial detention," said Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, who introduced the bill with Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. "The average cost (to hold them in jail) is $100 a day .... That's our tax dollars that could be going elsewhere if we're able to introduce a pretrial services program that allows for the just and equitable release of a defendant who is not a threat to the community." "The bill creates a presumption that
