Changing the severity of drug charges in Colorado
Read full article #LeslieHerod #criminaljusticereform #pettyoffenses #socialjustice #prisonpopulation #drugpossession #drugtreatment
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
From bail reform to restoring voting rights and sealing records, Colorado’s criminal justice system
“We’re not rehabilitating people. We’re just cycling in and out through different systems and then back in,” said state Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat who is pushing many of the criminal justice measures. “And we have to change that.” "Many of the criminal justice bills sailing through the General Assembly this year aren’t necessarily new concepts, but Democrats are taking advantage of their new majority, flexing political muscle to make strides on other long-debated is
‘Ban the Box’ bill would make it harder for employers to discriminate against people with criminal r
“The data is there, showing that when you give someone an opportunity to have a face-to-face conversation with an employer, to get out of that application process, they’re more likely to get that job,” said Herod, who represents northeast Denver." "All we’re trying to do is ensure that people aren’t automatically screened out for a mistake they made in their past and that they’ve paid their time for. This will allow them to sit next to an employer one-on-one and say, ‘Here’s
'Ban the Box' bill has one last hurdle to clear
"A bill to prevent employers from asking prospective workers, at least at first, whether they have a felony conviction won preliminary approval in the Colorado Senate on Thursday." "The so-called Ban the Box measure, HB1025, is designed to help convicted felons to at least get in the door and be considered for employment, rather than be dismissed outright because of past infractions." "Some of those applications don't ask for details of a felony, but merely have a box that ne
INSIGHTS | Lawmakers are quietly reshaping Colorado justice
"Beneath the big headlines of this legislative session -- drilling fights, full-day kindergarten, sex ed and the red-flag gun bill -- is an undercurrent of deep political and social change for Colorado." "Quietly, bills large and small are being hammered out in Denver to reshape how criminal justice is carried out. Those pushing the agenda aren't just the usual back-bench liberals, either." "Thirty years ago, when I started covering politics, any legislation or law that helpe
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
