"On Tuesday, lawmakers heard testimony on House Bill 1263, which would make it a misdemeanor and no longer a felony to possess illegal drugs." "The bill does not address distribution of drugs, which means it will still be a felony to sell illegal products." “They could still get up to 120 days -- 180 days in some instances -- so they could still go to jail, hard time. The question is: Do we put them in DOC where there are no resources for them, or do we allow them the opportu

"DENVER – A House Judiciary meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss a bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. Leslie Herod and Republican Rep. Shane Sandridge who believes by reclassifying simple drug possession as a misdemeanor, that it would ultimately result in fewer felony records, reduced jail sentences, and million in savings to the state." “Most Coloradans agree we should focus more on treatment and prevention instead of punishment and incarceration, and that i

"We have a leg up where it concerns understanding what our folks have been through and what they’re probably going to face in their challenges after incarceration,” Latif said. “We have about 1,300 client visits a month. We have a recidivism rate over the last four years of under 10 percent.” "It’s because of his experiences he’s supporting House Bill 1263. Rep. Leslie Herod is leading the effort to change some small drug possession charges into misdemeanors. Advocates say it

"Colorado lawmakers are moving ahead with drug-possession sentencing reforms as part of a broader effort to curb the opioid epidemic and drive down the state’s prison population." “We know that addiction is a public health issue,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat from Denver who is sponsoring the bill. “We need to get people to the right place. And just putting someone in (the Department of Corrections) for simple possession is not doing that.” "The House Judiciary Committe

"DENVER (CBS4) — Lawmakers will consider a bill Tuesday that would lower the penalty for possession of illegal drugs for personal use. Under existing law, possession of a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II is a felony. If HB19-1263 passes, it would reduce simple drug possession crimes in Colorado to a misdemeanor and remove the felony charge for possessing more than 12 ounces of marijuana." "Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD, marijuana, peyote, methaqualone, a

"These institutions were never designed to be treatment centers, and they can't be relied upon to do that," notes Donner." "That's why the CCJRC is supporting House Bill 19-1263, which was introduced on March 22 and will be heard in the house Judiciary Committee on April 2; it's sponsored by representatives Leslie Herod and Shane Sandridge, as well as senators Vicki Marble and Pete Lee. If approved, the measure would reduce felony simple drug possession crimes in the state to

"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

The Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition report, released Monday, also found 75 percent of felony drug filings last year were for simple possession. Of those sentenced last year to prison for drug possession, 84 percent were originally charged only with possession. The increase in drug felony filings appears to have a disproportionate impact on women offenders, the report states. Two Democrats — Rep. Leslie Herod of Denver and Rep. Pete Lee of Colorado Springs — said th