“Two lawmakers, Rep. Leslie Herod and Sen. Julie Gonzales, introduced a bill earlier this month that would allow the re-opening of a closed state prison to replace private prison beds and would require the Colorado Department of Corrections to study how it could end the use of private corrections companies by 2025.” Read full article #LeslieHerod #JulieGonzale #privateprisons #prison #criminaljustice

“Herod also wants to study how to phase out the use of private prisons entirely by 2025 or sooner.” Read full article #criminaljusticereform #LeslieHerod #prisonreform #privateprisons #criminaljustice

"The "private prison industry is getting out of prisons," Herod said. "Cities and states are being very clear" that there should not be a profit motive for prisons. Read full article #criminaljusticereform #LeslieHerod #prisonreform #privateprisons #criminaljustice

“It’s really about access to justice,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat from Denver who serves as vice chair on the House Judiciary Committee. Herod said her goal is to “dismantle the racism and the classism” that exists within Colorado’s criminal justice system." Read full article #criminaljustice #LeslieHerod #prisonpopulation #cashbond #mentalhealth

"With this new law in place, those found with Schedule I and II drugs will likely still appear in front of a judge to be sentenced, although the goal is to “give [drug users] another chance,” according to Leslie Herod, the State Rep. who sponsored the bill." "However, drug possession is far from being decriminalized. The bill still subjects those found with the substances in question to a jail sentence. Bill 1263 will not protect those who deal Schedule I and II drugs or thos

“DENVER (CBS4) – A Colorado lawmaker says she will introduce legislation changing how all deadly force cases involving police are investigated. The shooting of 19-year-old De’Von Bailey in Colorado Springs in August was a tipping point for Rep. Leslie Herod, Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee.” Read full article #criminaljusticereform #criminaljustice #LeslieHerod #PoliceShooting #DeVonBailey

“The distance between a prison and an ex-offender's home community generally can be traversed by bus in a few hours. But the real distance an ex-offender must travel from incarceration to successful reintegration can take years, or even decades, to achieve. Thanks to Governor Jared Polis, Colorado Department of Corrections director Dean Williams and Representative Leslie Herod, tangible measures soon will be in place for ex-offenders to succeed.” Read full article #criminalju

"In bolstering treatment options in the city and county, Caring 4 Denver will focus funding on housing for those in need of mental health or substance abuse treatment, as well as training for first responders, Will Fenton, legislative liaison Denver Department of Health and Environment, said Wednesday. Through this effort, the foundation hopes to reduce homelessness, improve long-term recovery, and curb the use of jails and emergency room visits." Read full article #mentalhea

"Democratic Rep. Leslie Herod of Denver and others questioned the methodology behind the numbers, which affect funding or opening new facilities." "On June 30, about 14,200 inmates were in the corrections department’s 19 prisons." "Nearly 3,900 more were at three private prisons with state contracts. Read full article #criminaljusticereform #criminaljustice #LeslieHerod #paroleevoting #prisonpopulation

"But some legislators question the methodology that state researchers use." "It’s important that we dig down into what is working and what is not working," said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. "This specific modeling has been off for years." Read full article #criminaljusticereform #criminaljustice #LeslieHerod #prisonpopulation