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.


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Denver police force settlements now top $1 million for year - The Denver Post

Denver police force settlements now top $1 million for year - The Denver Post

The Denver City Council voted unanimously last night to pay $80,000 to settle two excessive force lawsuits, saying they hope "a new day" for the police department is coming.

"We've had a downpour of police settlements lately, and I'm hoping there's a drought soon," Councilman Doug Linkhart said.

The settlements bring the total paid by the city for excessive force complaints to more than $1 million so far this year.

Jared Lunn, a volunteer Brighton firefighter, will receive $45,000 to settle a federal civil rights case.

Lunn said he was beaten after he approached an officer who was off-duty, but in uniform, at a LoDo bar in December 2009.

The officer, Eric Sellers, accused Lunn of being drunk and making a sarcastic comment. According to a report filed by Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal, Sellers put Lunn in a chokehold, wrestled him to the ground, handcuffed and berated him.

Sellers was originally given a 45-day suspension, which was reduced to 40 days after he appealed to the Civil Service Commission.

The council also voted to pay $35,000 to Mark Ashford, who said he was beaten by two officers and had to be taken to the hospital following a March 2010 incident that occurred while he was walking his dogs near 20th and Little Raven streets.

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