Alternative Funding Options for Court Facilities, National Center for State Courts
Presented to the County Courthouse and County Jail Funding and Overcrowding Solutions Interim Study Committee at its September 2017 meeting.
Second Regular Session | 74th General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyPresented to the County Courthouse and County Jail Funding and Overcrowding Solutions Interim Study Committee at its September 2017 meeting.
During the 2017 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to construction defects, music performance contracts, property transfers, trusts, and the Right to Rest.
There are 324 justices and judges in Colorado. Seven justices preside over the Supreme Court and issue binding majority decisions on lower court rulings. Additionally, 317 judges preside over other various courts, including the Court of Appeals (22 judges), district courts (181 judges), and...
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 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 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...
What can a person do if he or she feels that an attorney or judge in a legal matter acted unprofessionally? In Colorado, there are formal complaint processes to review the conduct of attorneys and judges and to administer discipline when warranted. Additionally, voters can choose whether to...
This memorandum provides an overview of state laws that address age of consent for sexual activity. More specifically, it provides information about the age of sexual consent in Colorado and other states, including exemptions that allow a person below the age of consent to have lawful sex with...
During the 2017 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to judicial performance, state and local court administration, court proceedings involving juveniles, evidence and court procedures, and records sealing. This document summarizes the legislation.
During the 2018 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly considered measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature considered bills regarding civil protections, the statute of limitations for domestic violence offenses, immunity, jurisdiction, and liability.
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly introduced numerous bills concerning crimes,criminal penalties, and law enforcement.
The Colorado Constitution allows voters to decide whether justices and judges stay on the bench after they have been appointed and have had time to establish a judicial record by serving an initial term. Some form of this process, otherwise known as the merit selection and retention of justices...
Colorado’s child welfare system provides a range of services to protect children from abuse and neglect and to assist families in caring for their children. This issue brief provides an overview of the child welfare system in Colorado, including administration and funding, reporting...
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.
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...
Gravity 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...
This memorandum provides an overview of jury duty for criminal trials in Colorado, including how jurors are summoned, excused, selected, paid, and impaneled. Jury deliberations, instructions, and verdicts are also covered.
This issue brief provides an overview of extreme risk protection orders, including what they are, how they are used, and how Colorado's proposed law compares to other states. It also addresses other types of protection orders authorized in Colorado law.
The General Assembly passed legislation during the 2019 legislative session which strengthens protections for children in voluntary temporary care; requires studying challenges facing child care homes and ways to increased the availability of infant and child care in child care homes; amends...
During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly examined a number of measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature considered bills regarding consumer fraud, internet privacy, free-speech lawsuits, damages, child hearsay exceptions, and equal pay.
This issue brief provides an overview of state laws related to pet animal facilities. These facilities are licensed and regulated under the Colorado Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA).
During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of measures related to estate documents, public guardians, and trusts.
Summary report for the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System.
Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Treatment of Persons With Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal Justice System Committee.
Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Colorado Youth Advisory Council Review Committee.