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
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
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
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
A Colorado bill would eliminate felony charges for all personal drug possession, reduce jail time fo
"The bill, introduced Friday, is part of a much-needed solution to Colorado’s crowded prisons and corrections spending, said sponsor Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat. Two Republicans and the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee also sponsor the bill." “It’s time to take away this whole notion that we have to incarcerate to provide treatment,” Herod said." "The bill would not change the punishments for those charged with other drug crimes — such as possess
Gov. Polis signs bill adding new judges statewide
"The bill, partially introduced by Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, prevents judges from imposing cash bonds on defendants for minor traffic or petty offenses, thus keeping them out of overcrowded jails because of an inability to pay." "Every night, thousands of Coloradans awaiting trial for minor offenses languish in jail simply because they can't afford to get out," said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, who introduced the bill with Soper. "We are caging the poor and the homeless, not
Colorado bill would eliminate cash bail for minor offenses
"Sponsors of the bill, including Rep. Leslie Herod (D-Denver) and Rep. Matt Soper (R-Delta), argue thousands of Coloradans await trial in jail for minor offenses simply because they can't afford bail - essentially punishing people for being in poverty." “Every night, thousands of Coloradans awaiting trial for minor offenses languish in jail simply because they can't afford to get out," Rep. Herod said. "We are caging the poor and the homeless, not for their crimes, but for th
Criminal justice reform bill would eliminate cash bail for petty offenses
"House Bill 1225 eliminates the option for judges to impose cash bonds for criminal defendants accused of crimes below that of a misdemeanor. It would also apply to traffic violations as long as no one was killed or injured, and the defendant was not suspected of eluding a police officer or tampering with an interlock device." “Criminal justice is an issue that is not partisan, justice is not partisan,” said bill co-sponsor Rep. Leslie Herod, (D) Denver. “We are able to work
Colorado Lawmakers Want To Halt Required Bond Payments For Petty Crimes
"Some lawmakers say people are being jailed for minor crimes in Colorado simply because they don’t have enough money to pay for the bond. A bill introduced this week in the state legislature would bar that the courts from requiring that people pay bonds in cases of petty crimes and traffic offenses." "Rep. Matt Soper, a Republican who represents Delta, and Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat who represents Denver, are the authors of the bill. They say thousands of poor people are b
