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.


Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Denver has spent nearly $6.2 million since 2004 to settle suits against police - The Denver Post

Denver has spent nearly $6.2 million since 2004 to settle suits against police - The Denver Post

The city of Denver has spent nearly $6.2 million since 2004 to settle lawsuits involving police officers, and nearly all of the payouts were for allegations of excessive force.

City Attorney David Fine revealed those details Tuesday in a report to a City Council committee.

Council members had asked Fine to research litigation patterns after controversy erupted last month over a video that showed an officer beating a 23-year-old man who was talking on a cellphone.

The report did not compare Denver's police litigation payouts with other cities.

Since 2004, the average settlement in Denver for an excessive-force claim was about $97,000. The city paid nearly $3 million to settle three lawsuits, pushing the average up. In all, the city paid out $5 million in settlements for excessive force since 2004.

The city attorney's office has handled 63 excessive-force lawsuits against police since 2004, ranging from a high of 16 last year to a low of six in 2007.



Read more: Denver has spent nearly $6.2 million since 2004 to settle suits against police - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16076344#ixzz0zdkZV6zh

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