2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

 CJDC 2012 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES and VICTORIES!!!!

 
 

House Bill 1271 Juvenile Direct File Limitations
Sponsored by Representatives Nikkel and McCann and Senators Neville and Giron. This bill limits direct file eligibility and provides youth the right to seek judicial review over the determination of whether the case should be filed in adult criminal court or juvenile court.  This bill was signed by the Governor and became immediately effective on April 20, 2012.

House Bill 1139 Pretrial Detention Of Children Tried As Adults
Sponsored by Representative Levy & Senator Guzman. The bill prohibits direct filed juveniles from being held in an adult jail unless a judge, after a hearing, finds an adult jail is more appropriate than a juvenile detention facility.  This bill was signed by the Governor and became immediately effective on March 15, 2012.

  • Click here for New Pretrial Detention Law Summary

  • Click here for the final version of House Bill 1139

Senate Bill 28 Aggravated Juvenile Offenders
Sponsored by Senator Grantham. Allows for consecutive juvenile sentencing for aggravated juvenile offenders adjudicated for first and second degree murder.  CJDC originally opposed this bill but worked with the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar and the Colorado District Attorney’s Council to reach a compromise.  The bill offers an alternative to direct file, provides for a reconsideration hearing at age 20½ at which point the judge may review the consecutive sentence, and has expanded options regarding where a youth could be transferred at age 20½.  Signed by the Governor and became immediately effective June 12, 2012. 

  • Click here for Aggravated Juvenile Offender Law Summary

  • Click here for the final version of Senate Bill 28 as amended to House Bill 1310 (page 33)

2012 Direct File Reform Media Coverage:

The Denver Post: Hickenlooper signs ‘direct file’ into law that limits charging juveniles as adults, Tim Hoover, April 20, 2012 http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20444785/hickenlooper-signs-direct-file-into-law-that-limits?source=email

JD Journal: Colorado passes direct file to law limiting adult criminal charges on juveniles,  April 21, 2012 http://www.jdjournal.com/2012/04/21/colorado-passes-direct-file-to-law-limiting-adult-criminal-charges-on-juveniles/

CBS 4 Denver: Senate Passes Bill Restricting DAs In Youth Cases, Associated Press: April 6, 2012 8:27 A.M.,  http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/04/06/senate-passes-bill-restricting-das-in-youth-cases/

Aurora Sentinel: Senate passes bill restricting DAs in youth cases, Associated Press, April 6, 2012 6:45 A.M., http://www.aurorasentinel.com/email_push/news/article_5b45b1c8-7fe6-11e1-9e0d-001a4bcf887a.html

The Denver Post: Trust judges with juvenile placements, Marc Levin and Mike Krause, April 6, 2012 1:00 A.M., http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20335820/trust-judges-juvenile-placements

The Denver Post: Colorado bill limiting ability to charge young offenders as adults heads to governor, Lynn Bartels, April 6, 2012 1:00 A.M., http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20337559/colorado-bill-limiting-ability-charge-young-offenders-adults

The Pueblo Chieftain: Adult charges against juvies put in judges’ hands, Patrick Malone, April 6, 2012 12:00 A.M., http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/adult-charges-against-juvies-put-in-judges-hands/article_ae9b7f02-7fa9-11e1-992d-0019bb2963f4.html

The Daily Camera: Colorado bill restricting DA power in juvenile cases passes, Ivan Moreno April 5, 2012 11:49 P.M., http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20337615/colorado-bill-restricting-da-power-juvenile-cases-passes

KDVR 31: “Direct File” reform bill advances, despite fight from DA’s, Eli Stokols, April 5, 2012 6:51 P.M., http://kdvr.com/2012/03/26/direct-file-reform-bill-advances-despite-fight-from-das/

Colorado Spring Gazette: Bill would change age for juveniles to be charged as adults, John Schroyer, April 5, 2012 4:43 P.M., http://www.gazette.com/articles/juveniles-136351-senate-adults.html

The Huffington Post: HB 1271 Calls For More Oversight In Direct File Cases, Heads To Gov. Hickenlooper For Signing, Andrea Rael, April 5, 2012, 3:50 P.M., http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/05/hb-1271-calls-for-more-ov_n_1406563.html?ref=denver

KDVR 31: Direct File Reform Passes Senate, heads to Hickenlooper, Eli Stokols, April 5, 2012 11:39 A.M., http://kdvr.com/2012/04/05/senate-considers-last-ditch-effort-to-change-direct-file-bill/

The Denver Post: Bill to reduce Colorado prosecutors’ power to charge youths as adults advances, Ivan Moreno, April 5, 2012, 1:00 A.M., http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20328875/bill-reduce-colorado-prosecutors-power-charge-youths-adults

The Pueblo Chieftan: Juvenile charges bill almost at gov.’s desk, Patrick Malone, April 5, 2012 12:00 A.M., http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/juvenile-charges-bill-almost-at-gov-s-desk/article_75f84dfe-7ede-11e1-a8ae-0019bb2963f4.html

Chosocton tribute:Bill to reduce DA’s power to charge youth debated, Ivan Moreno, April 4, 2012, http://www.coshoctontribune.com/usatoday/article/38966441?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cs

Post Crescent: Bill to reduce DA’s power to charge youth debated, Ivan Moreno, April 4, 2012, http://www.postcrescent.com/usatoday/article/38966441?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs

The Republic: Lawmakers debate bill to reduce Colo. DA’s power to charge youth as adults, Ivan Moreno, April 4, 2012, http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/c65b6c1cc59e459988a0c661f8d271bd/CO-XGR–Youths-In-Prison/

The Mansfield  News Journal: Bill to reduce DA’s power to charge youth debated, Ivan Moreno, April 4, 2012 3:28 P.M., http://ohne.ws/HOlLv8

KDVR 31: Senate takes up Direct File reform bill, Eli Stokols, April 4, 2012 1028 A.M., http://kdvr.com/2012/04/04/senate-takes-up-direct-file-reform-bill/

CW 2: Senate takes up Direct File reform bill, Eli Stokols, April 4, 2012 1028 A.M., http://kwgn.com/2012/04/04/state-senate-gives-initial-approval-to-juvenile-justice-reform-bill/

The Daily Sentinal: Juvenile-crime bill advances in Senate: Measure would put limits on how prosecutors charge young offenders, Charles Ashby, April 4, 2012, http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/juvenilecrime-bill-advances-in-senate

The Pueblo Chieftan: DA’s role in juvenile crime may shift, Patrick Malone, March 27, 2012 at 12:00 A.M., http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/das-role-in-juvenile-crimes-may-shift/article_e5b3c6a4-77c3-11e1-8b32-0019bb2963f4.html

KDVR 31: “Direct File” reform bill advances, despite fight from DA’s, Eli Stokles,  March 26, 2012 9:14 P.M., http://kdvr.com/2012/03/26/direct-file-reform-bill-advances-despite-fight-from-das/

Huff Post: The Blog: Justice for All: Reforming Colorado’s Juvenile Direct File Provision, Kim Dvorchak, March 26, 2012, 1:56 P.M., http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-dvorchak/colorado-direct-file_b_1380246.html

The New York Times: Colorado Revisits Law That Gives Prosecutors Wide Power to Try Youths as Adults, Dan Frosch, March 26, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/27/us/colorado-revisits-its-juvenile-crime-law.html?_r=1

AM760: David Sirota Tuesday March 26, 2012, http://bit.ly/HghKMr

The Denver Post: Carroll: Lions, Tigers, and Judges, oh my, Vincent Carroll, March 25, 2012, 1:00 A.M., http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20235061/lions-tigers-and-judges-oh-my

The Daily Camera: District Attorney: Reviewing decisions to charge children as adults, Stan Garnett, March 25 2012, 1:00A.M., http://www.dailycamera.com/guestopinion/ci_20242252/district-attorney-reviewing-decisions-charge-children-adults

Denver Post: Colorado House passes bill shifting power to try teens as adults, Jessica Fender, March 20, 2012 1:00 A.M., http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20210930/colorado-house-passes-bill-shifting-power-try-teens

CPR: A Way Out for Juvenile Offenders, Andrea Dukakis, March 20, 2012, http://www.cpr.org/article/A_Way_Out_for_Juvenile_Offenders

The Denver Post: Reforming Colorado’s juvenile justice policy, DP Opinion, March 20, 2012, http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2012/03/17/reforming-colorados-juvenile-justice-policies/17052/

KDVR31: House approves juvenile justice, fetal homicide measures, Eli Stokols, March 16, 2012 2:29 P.M., http://kdvr.com/2012/03/16/house-debates-juvenile-justice-fetal-homicide-measures/

CBS 4: DA’s Authority In Colorado Juvenile Cases Debated, Associated Press, March 16, 2012 3:12 P.M., http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/03/16/das-authority-in-colorado-juvenile-cases-debated/

The Republic: Colo. bill to reduce prosecutor’s power in charging juveniles as adults gets OK in full House, Ivan Moreno, March 16, 2012 6:04 P.M., http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/f1c2f38f3d5c440c80a9c6dceb18d8fe/CO-XGR–Youths-In-Prison/

NECN.COM: House debates DA’s authority in CO juvenile cases, Associated Press, March 16, 2012 6:04 P.M.,http://www.necn.com/03/16/12/House-debates-DAs-authority-in-CO-_juven/landing_nation.html?&apID=f1c2f38f3d5c440c80a9c6dceb18d8fe

Why Colorado Should Reform Juvenile Justice, Including ‘Direct File,’ Now, Natasha Gardner, March 15, 2012 6:27 P.M.,http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/15/why-colorado-should-refor_n_1349856.html

5280: Opinion: Why Colorado Should Reform Juvenile Justice Now, Natasha Gardner, March 15, 2012 3:49, http://www.5280.com/blogs/2012/03/15/opinion-why-colorado-should-reform-juvenile-justice-now

The Denver Post: Colo. lawmakers review adult charges for youth, Ivan Moreno, March 11, 2012 6:03 A.M.,http://www.denverpost.com/dontmiss/ci_20150808/colo-lawmakers-review-adult-charges-youth

Associated Press: Colo. lawmakers review adult charges for youth, Ivan Moreno, March 11, 2012 8:01 A.M., http://bit.ly/GBtsF6

ABC 7: Lawmakers Review Adult Charges for Youth, Justin Adams: March 11, 2012 10:26 A.M., http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/30655086/detail.html

Wausau Daily Herald: Colo. lawmakers review adult charges for youth, Ivan Moreno, March 11, 2012 12:56 P.M., http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/usatoday/article/38772659

KDVR 31 and KWGN 2: Juvenile justice reform bill clears big test, Posted on: 10:41 am, March 8, 2012, by Eli Stokols, http://kwgn.com/2012/03/08/juvenile-justice-reform-bill-clears-big-test-2/ , http://kdvr.com/2012/03/08/juvenile-justice-reform-up-for-hearing/

Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, Think Outside the Cage: Juvenile Justice Reform Bill Clears Committee, Thursday, March 08, 2012, http://thinkoutsidethecage2.blogspot.com/2012/03/juvenile-justice-reform-bill-clears.html

CBS 4: Prosecutors’ Deciding To Charge Children As Adults Comes Under Fire, Shaun Boyd, March 7, 2012 7:55 PM, http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/03/07/prosecutors-deciding-to-charge-children-as-adults-comes-under-fire/

Westword:  Juveniles prosecuted as adults: Colorado’s hardline approach not working, report says, By Alan Prendergast Tue., Mar. 6 2012 at 2:59 PM, http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2012/03/juveniles_prosecuted_as_adults_colorado.php

TrustLaw: US/Colorado: Assembly Acts to Protect Youth Accused of Crimes, 06 Mar 2012 18:25, http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/news/uscolorado-assembly-acts-to-protect-youth-accused-of-crimes

CPR: The Girl Who Fell to Earth, David Hill, February 23, 2012, http://www.cpr.org/#load_article%7CThe_Girl_Who_Fell_to_Earth