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.


Monday, May 09, 2011

Battle over bail bond as session wraps up - The Denver Post

Battle over bail bond as session wraps up - The Denver Post

Colorado's bail bondsmen are determined to kill a bill due up in a House committee Tuesday, but one sponsor is afraid time will run out on the bill whether it gets committee approval or not.

Senate Bill 186 won final Senate approval by an 18-17 vote last week, and would allow some suspected criminals to post bond without using a bail agent. The state's bail bondsmen have rallied at the Capitol to protest a bill they say would cost them business.

The bill, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, and in the House by Rep. Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, would allow defendants to post an "alternative bond" directly to the government instead of paying a bail bond agent to guarantee their appearances at


trial. This option would be available only if the option got the approval of the chief judge in the judicial district handling the case.

Professional Bail Agents of Colorado Vice President Steve Mares called the bill "ugly" and "an attempt to abolish the bail bond industry in Colorado."

With the legislature set to adjourn Wednesday, Mares said he was hopeful time would run out before the House could approve the bill.

"Hopefully the bill will run off into the 'sunset' and die," he said.


Read more: Battle over bail bond as session wraps up - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_18027806#ixzz1LvCJM2vK
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