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 of Coloradans charged with minor offenses are incarcerated pretrial simply because they can't afford to pay their way out of jail," she says in a statement. "It is unacceptable to punish those who have the presumption of innocence simply because they’re poor. Poverty is not a crime."

"Colorado courts are currently required to bond out individuals charged with certain minor offenses, such as petty theft or disorderly conduct, barring extenuating circumstances."

"If passed, this bill would remove the monetary bond requirement for charges that fall into three categories: petty offense, unclassified offense and Class 3 misdemeanor, the least-serious class of misdemeanor."

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