Who is the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition?

Our mission is to reverse the trend of mass incarceration in Colorado. We are a coalition of nearly 7,000 individual members and over 100 faith and community organizations who have united to stop perpetual prison expansion in Colorado through policy and sentence reform.

Our chief areas of interest include drug policy reform, women in prison, racial injustice, the impact of incarceration on children and families, the problems associated with re-entry and stopping the practice of using private prisons in our state.

If you would like to be involved please go to our website and become a member.


Saturday, July 28, 2007

War Protester Gets Jail

CCJRC member and Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice activist Carolyn Bninski was sentenced to 30 days in jail for trespassing and not for unlawful assembly.

A war protester who occupied U.S. Rep. Mark Udall's Colorado office and refused to leave was sentenced Friday to a month in jail.

A jury found Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center activist Carolyn Bninski, 57, guilty of trespassing but not-guilty of unlawful assembly.

Bninski, 57, had rejected a plea deal of 60 days in jail to stand trial in Westminster municipal court.

"I don't regret that I participated in this action. It's a small thing to do, compared to the suffering of Iraqis," said Bninski, who also must pay a $500 fine.

Bninski and four other protesters conducted a three-week in-office protest against Udall's votes for continued Iraq war funding. When Udall staffers asked them to leave, they refused and were arrested March 8 by Westminster police for trespassing and unlawful assembly.

The others got $100 fines or community service, but prosecutors sought jail time for Bninski because she had been arrested several times before for civil disobedience.

Denver Post

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