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.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Juvenile Direct File Bill Passes House Judiciary

Bucking the opinion of numerous law enforcement officials, state lawmakers gave their initial approval Wednesday to a bill aimed at restricting prosecutors’ abilities to pursue adult sentences for juvenile offenders.

The House Judiciary Committee agreed, in a 6-5 vote, to approve Rep. Claire Levy’s proposal to raise the minimum age from 14 to 16 for minors who can be charged as adults.

Her measure, House Bill 1208, also removes vehicular homicide and vehicular assault from the list of crimes prosecutors can direct file against a teen.

“I’m not taking a wrecking ball to the (system),” said Levy, a Boulder Democrat.

Levy’s bill, however, drew blistering attacks from law enforcement officials who accused her bill of eviscerating one of the ways they can confront juveniles who commit heinous crimes. Boulder District Attorney Mary Lacey said Levy’s bill assumes prosecutors have either capriciously used or overused the direct-file process.

The Sentinel

at 11:45 AM

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