Broken Windows Explodes in the Courts

A younger, more aggressive police force is driving up the number of criminal cases in Denver courts, with a 73 percent increase in misdemeanor cases over two years, raising worries among some judges about the potential for hurried justice.

Last year, misdemeanor prosecutions, involving things such as violations of protection orders, drunken driving cases and traffic violations, rose to a record high of 18,334.

Detective Nick Rogers, vice president of the union representing Denver police officers, said a big hiring push has filled depleted police ranks and an energized police force is emboldened by a new "broken windows" policing philosophy that emphasizes punishing quality-of-life crimes, such as public drinking.

"More cops equals more arrests," Rogers said. "And some of the programs such as broken windows has definitely made an impact across the city in regards to crime. The idea is that you let the cops go out and do their job and find the criminals and put them in jail."

But the push by police has caused a glut of misdemeanor offenders, prompting authorities to move arraignment court from the old location at the city jail building into a more spacious courtroom in the City and County Building.

Before that move, lines had grown so long that defendants routinely had to wait outside on some of the coldest days of winter for the courtroom to unclog.

Even at the new location, defendants stand for hours waiting their turn, spilling out of the crowded courtroom into the hallway.

"I can't breathe," John Ward, 49, muttered to himself Tuesday morning as he stood shoulder to shoulder with other defendants and waited to appear for a traffic violation. "Just send me to jail, man. Open the windows. Turn on the air conditioning. Do something. Anything."

He was one of 256 defendants, a record day. The courtroom had nine benches, with seating for about 50.

"Welcome to my nightmare," Magistrate Mark Muller told the defendants as he took the bench.

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