Second Regular Session | 71st General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyGravity and switchblade knives, which were originally popularized by classic movies such as West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause, are considered illegal weapons in Colorado. Possessing such a weapon could result in a fine or jail time, or both. This issue brief...
A statute of limitations is a law that specifies the maximum length of time allowed for a victim or prosecutor to initiate legal proceedings. Such a statute may apply in either criminal or civil cases. This issue brief provides an overview of criminal statutes of limitations, including...
This memorandum provides an overview of how post-conviction sex offender polygraph testing (PCSOT) is used for adult sex offenders in Colorado, as well as in other states. It also includes a summary of current research on its effectiveness.
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly introduced numerous bills concerning crimes,criminal penalties, and law enforcement.
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly introduced numerous bills concerning the state’s correctional system and associated issues.
Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems.
Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the County Courthouse and County Jail Funding and Overcrowding Solutions Interim Study Committee.
This memo compares Colorado’s felony sentencing laws with those of Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington. It provides an overview of determinate versus indeterminate sentencing schemes and incarceration rates.
This memorandum provides information concerning second look sentencing. Second look sentencing refers to sentence modification that occurs while an offender is serving his or her term of incarceration. This memorandum briefly describes second look sentencing and discusses the differences...
This memo explains enhanced sentencing requirements for two different criminal offense categories: crimes of violence and habitual offenders. It also provides sentencing data for offenders convicted of crimes of violence or as habitual offenders between 2014 and 2016. During this three year...
This memorandum provides an overview of the mandatory minimum sentencing schemes in Colorado law. It provides information on the general categories of offenses subject to enhanced prison sentences and specific crimes that require a mandatory minimum sentence. Three years of sentencing data are...
Presented to the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee at its September 2017 meeting.
Presented to the County Courthouse and County Jail Funding and Overcrowding Solutions Interim Study Committee at its August 2017 meeting.
Presented to the County Courthouse and County Jail Funding and Overcrowding Solutions Interim Study Committee at its August 2017 meeting.
Presented to the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee at its August 22, 2017, meeting.
Presented to the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee at its August 22, 2017, meeting.
Presented to the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee at its August 22, 2017, meeting.
This memorandum provides an overview of the sentencing categories in state law for felony and misdemeanor offenses, including special offender sentencing. The memorandum also explains the sentencing scheme for drug offenses and for habitual offenders. There are two appendices that accompany...
Recent federal policy changes have increased public awareness of asset forfeiture, a process through which a law enforcement agency can seize property that may have been involved in a criminal action. While federal policy affects federal seizures in the state, Colorado law governs how state and...
This memorandum provides information concerning the use of capital punishment in Colorado and across the country. The memorandum provides a brief history of Colorado’s death penalty scheme and information on recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning the constitutionality of the death...
The rise in distracted driving, often associated with ever-present smart phones and mobile devices, has been identified as a cause and contributing factor to automobile crashes. This issue brief gives an overview of state and federal regulations on the issue.
This memorandum provides an overview of the County Courthouse and County Jail Funding and Overcrowding Solutions Interim Study Committee, including the charge of the committee, the committee membership, the bill limits, the bill request deadlines applicable to the committee, and information...
This memorandum provides an overview of county jails, including their function, population served, cost per day, and relationship with the state Department of Corrections.