State Laws Addressing Age of Sexual Consent
This memorandum provides an overview of state laws that address age of consent for sexual activity. More specifically, it provides information about the age of sexual consent in Colorado and other states, including exemptions that allow a person below the age of consent to have lawful sex with...
Capital Construction Fact Sheet: Colorado Correctional Industries
This Fact Sheet provides detailed information on the Colorado Correctional Industries (CCi), a self-supporting division of the Department of Corrections (DOC), which oversees and manages prison work programs in the state. Established in 1977, CCi’s purpose, as defined in state law, includes...
Adams County Youth Services Center Property Acquisition
This memorandum summarizes a request from the Department of Human Services (DHS) to acquire a 15-acre parcel of land from Adams County for the construction of a new youth services center in the 17th Judicial District.
Summary of Human Services Legislation (2018)
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to increasing access to behavioral health services, increasing capacity for competency restoration, protecting children in foster care, child care assistance funding, and increasing the effectiveness of other...
Summary of Corrections Legislation (2018)
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly introduced numerous bills concerning the state’s correctional system and associated issues.
Summary of Crimes and Law Enforcement Legislation (2018)
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly introduced numerous bills concerning crimes,criminal penalties, and law enforcement.
Colorado’s Child Welfare System (18-14)
Colorado’s child welfare system provides a range of services to protect children from abuse and neglect and to assist families in caring for their children. This issue brief provides an overview of the child welfare system in Colorado, including administration and funding, reporting...
Post-Conviction Sex Offender Polygraph Testing for Adult Sex Offenders
This memorandum provides an overview of how post-conviction sex offender polygraph testing (PCSOT) is used for adult sex offenders in Colorado, as well as in other states. It also includes a summary of current research on its effectiveness.
Statutes of Limitations for Criminal Offenses (18-18)
A statute of limitations is a law that specifies the maximum length of time allowed for a victim or prosecutor to initiate legal proceedings. Such a statute may apply in either criminal or civil cases. This issue brief provides an overview of criminal statutes of limitations, including...
State Laws Regarding Gravity and Switchblade Knives (17-10)
Gravity and switchblade knives, which were originally popularized by classic movies such as West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause, are considered illegal weapons in Colorado. Possessing such a weapon could result in a fine or jail time, or both. This issue brief...
Jury Duty in Criminal Cases
This memorandum provides an overview of jury duty for criminal trials in Colorado, including how jurors are summoned, excused, selected, paid, and impaneled. Jury deliberations, instructions, and verdicts are also covered.
Mental Health Medication in the Criminal Justice System (19-01)
According to the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC), between 2012 to 2017, the number of inmates who had moderate to severe mental health needs increased by 7 percent. Additionally, a steep increase in court-ordered competency evaluations and restorative treatments has caused a shortage...
2018 Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems Final Report
Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems.
Overview of Community Corrections (19-03)
Community corrections programs serve as an alternative to prison or as a transition for individuals in prison to reenter society. This issue brief provides a general overview of community corrections.
Background on the Sale of the Grand Junction Regional Center Campus
This memorandum provides a brief overview of the timeline of events related to the recommended closure of the Grand Junction Regional Center (GJRC) campus.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (19-08)
This issue brief provides an overview of extreme risk protection orders, including what they are, how they are used, and how Colorado's proposed law compares to other states. It also addresses other types of protection orders authorized in Colorado law.
Hunger Relief Income Tax Credit & Crop and Livestock Contribution Corporate Income Tax Credit
Report No. 2018-TE4
Children and Domestic Matters 2019 Legislation
The General Assembly passed legislation during the 2019 legislative session which strengthens protections for children in voluntary temporary care; requires studying challenges facing child care homes and ways to increased the availability of infant and child care in child care homes; amends...
Summary of Human Services Legislation (2019)
During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly passed legislation focused on enhancing the state's adoption, foster care, and child welfare programs; expanding a Division of Youth Services (DYS) pilot program designed to change the internal culture of DYS; and enhancing services...
Prison Population Management Interim Study Committee Summary Report
Summary report for the Prison Population Management Interim Study Committee.
Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Summary Report
Summary report for the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System.
Procedures for Demographic Notes
This memorandum memorializes the process for requesting and preparing Demographic Notes (notes) pursuant to Section 2-2-322.5, C.R.S. It outlines the number of notes per session, the process for requesting notes, the preparation and timing of notes, and the preparation of revised and final notes...
Procedures for Demographic Notes Request Form
Procedures for Demographic Notes Form
Colorado's Human Services Delivery Structure
This memorandum provides a brief overview of the human services delivery structure in Colorado, which is primarily state-supervised and county-delivered. This includes an overview of the offices, divisions, and boards within the Colorado Department of Human Services (DHS) and a brief...