During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of measures related to estate documents, public guardians, and trusts.  

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).

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.

Community corrections programs serve as an alternative to prison or as a transition for individuals in prison to reenter society.  This issue brief provides a general overview of community corrections.

According to the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC), between 2012 to 2017, the number of inmates who had moderate to severe mental health needs increased by 7 percent.  Additionally, a steep increase in court-ordered competency evaluations and restorative treatments has caused a shortage...

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.

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...

In June 2014, Colorado became the first state to enact a law regulating on-demand transportation network companies (TNCs).  Since then, 49 other states and the District of Columbia have established regulatory frameworks for TNCs.  Unlike the taxicab industry, TNCs — such as Uber and Lyft — use a...

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...

During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly introduced numerous bills concerning the state’s correctional system and associated issues.

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.

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...