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
Colorado lawmakers consider banning cash bail for petty crimes, joining national reform movement
"The bill would ban judges from setting money bail for those charged with traffic offenses and municipal charges. The bill would not apply to defendants charged with traffic offenses that involve death or bodily injury or eluding a police officer or municipal offenses that are similar to misdemeanor charges." "Defendants pay bail to the court — either themselves or through a bondsman — as collateral that they will return for their next hearing. That money is returned if the d
Anti-Poverty Advocates Push Bill To Force Judges To Ditch Cash Bail For Petty Crimes
"House Bill 19-1225 has bipartisan sponsorship. The measure gets its first hearing in the state House on Thursday, where the judiciary committee is expected to vote." "It is unacceptable to punish those who have the presumption of innocence simply because they’re poor,” said state Rep. Leslie Herod, of Denver, who is sponsoring the measure. "Poverty is not a crime." "Backers also argue the proposal is a way to safely decrease jail overcrowding and save counties money. It can
Bill Would End Bail Requirement for Some Low-Level Offenses
"House Bill 1225, which will be debated today, March 14, in the House Judiciary Committee, would end the monetary bail requirement for certain low-level offenses in Colorado. The bill has bipartisan support, with Representative Matt Soper, a Republican, and Representative Leslie Herod, a Democrat, as co-sponsors." "Herod believes the measure will help create a fairer criminal justice system, regardless of the arrested individual's socioeconomic status. "Each year, thousands
10 local stories making headlines this week
"State Reps. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, introduced House Bill 1193, which would provide access to intensive substance use treatment to women up to one year after giving birth, and create pilot child care programs for women in treatment." Read full article #LeslieHerod #criminaljusticereform #addiction #cannabis #childcare
Colorado House endorses disclosure of police internal affairs records
"Following an hour-long floor debate Monday, the Colorado House gave preliminary approval to legislation that would open records on completed police internal affairs investigations." “Hiding the files is not the answer,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, talking about the problem of “bad” law enforcement officers. “Families, communities deserve to see this information, deserve to have this information when requested and when appropriate.” "Stressing that the current statutory
Police internal files could become public under bill approved by Colorado House committee
"In 2017, the department received 197 external or citizen complaints and 103 internal or directed complaints, Black said." "Many internal investigations are deemed unfounded, said Rep. Shane Sandridge, R-Colorado Springs, a former police officer and member of the House committee." “It’s always easier to blame the police officer,” Sandridge said. “He planted it. He hit me… He broke my arm. He beat me.” "But the committee's Vice Chair, Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, said civilian
Bill would place more judges in stressed judicial districts
"The 10 districts named in the funding request were among 13 in the state staffed below 80 percent and needing at least one additional judge to handle caseloads, the document says." "The longer cases take to move through the system, Ryan said, the greater level of strain on the public, such as victims of crimes who can be re-traumatized by drawn-out proceedings or, similarly, child victims of neglect, who may go without timely resolutions to their cases." “If the appropriate
Colorado’s prison budget nears $1 billion as inmate population grows. Frustrated leaders wanted acti
"In the current budget, the state counts 14,505 beds at state corrections facilities; 3,371 at private prisons; and 669 jail beds. The benchmark vacancy rate is 2 percent, but it sat at less than 1 percent, or 93 beds, at the end of 2018. A recent governor’s office report found that as many as 37 people go to prison each month, but it fluctuated as high as 131 new offenders at one point." "But instead of opening a new prison to house the additional inmates, state lawmakers wa
