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Final/Annual Reports

2024 Legislative Oversight for Colorado Jail Standards Final Report

Pursuant to Section 2-3-1901, C.R.S, the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards (committee) is responsible for adopting and revising standards for Colorado jails. The committee adopted a set of jail standards in 2023. Pursuant to Section 2-3-1901.5, C.R.S, jails must comply with the standards by July 1, 2026.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial

Staff Publications

2026 Sunset Review Hearings

During the 2026 legislative session, House committees of reference will consider 16 functions of Colorado state government and 6 advisory committees subject to sunset review. Sunset laws allow the General Assembly to periodically review the need for state regulations, advisory committees, or state agencies, and to update the law creating the agency or function.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Agriculture
  • Business & Economic Development
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Health Care & Health Insurance

Staff Publications

Crime Classification Guide (2025)

This guide is a compilation of crimes and traffic infractions in Colorado.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

Staff Publications

Deepfakes and AI-Generated Intimate Images Involving Minors

This memorandum reviews key federal and state laws that regulate generative artificial intelligence (AI) with particular attention to deepfakes and synthetic pornography involving minors. It describes how visual generative AI models work, including the methods used to generate AI content and realistic human imagery, and explains the legal frameworks designed to prevent misuse, especially when such content impersonates individuals or produces nonconsensual explicit material of minors.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Children & Domestic Matters
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
  • Telecommunications & Information Technology

Final/Annual Reports

2025 Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Juvenile Justice Systems Final Report

Submitted herewith is the final report of the Legislative Oversight Committee for the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. The committee was created pursuant to Article 98 of Title 37, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to oversee an advisory task force that studies and makes recommendations concerning persons with behavioral health disorders who are justice-involved. 

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
  • General Assembly
  • Human Services

Staff Publications

SB25-190 Study: Special Needs Parole and Correctional Release Options

Aging and ill inmates are the fastest growing population within Colorado prisons. Special needs parole (SNP) is designed to provide early release or parole to incarcerated individuals who have serious, debilitating, or terminal illnesses, or who are advanced age and no longer pose a threat to public safety. Yet, this release mechanism is used infrequently, often due to lack of healthcare services and housing options available upon release to the community.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
  • Health Care & Health Insurance
  • Human Services
  • Local Government
  • State Government

Issue Briefs

Competency for Criminal Trial in Colorado

Competency to stand trial, refers to the constitutional requirement that people facing criminal charges must be able to assist in their own defense. A criminal case cannot be adjudicated unless this requirement is met. The U.S. Supreme Court considers an individual competent to stand trial if they are rationally able to consult with an attorney and hold a clear understanding of the charges against them. 1 1Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Civil Law
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

Staff Publications

Process for Sealing or Expunging Criminal Records

This memorandum provides an overview of the process in Colorado for removing criminal records from publicly available sources, known as the “sealing” or “expungement” of criminal records.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

Staff Publications

Overview of the Colorado Judicial Branch

This memorandum provides an overview of the Colorado Judicial Branch, also referred to as the Judicial Department when described as part of the state budget. Established in Section 1 of Article VI of the Colorado Constitution, and further governed by Title 13 of the Colorado Revised Statutes and the Colorado Court Rules, the branch is responsible for administering a court system to resolve disputes and enforce civil and criminal laws.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial

Issue Briefs

Judicial Discipline

Judges are responsible for interpreting laws and making decisions that significantly affect people's lives. Because of this, judges must adhere to strict ethical codes in both their professional and personal lives to uphold public confidence in the integrity of the judicial system. When judges fail to meet these standards, judicial discipline systems investigate and address complaints of misconduct. This issue brief describes the judicial discipline process in Colorado.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial

Staff Publications

Criminal Justice Reform Bills

This memorandum provides a listing of criminal justice reform legislation enacted in Colorado from 2015 through 2025. More specifically, the attached table provides the bill number, title, and description of the criminal justice reform legislation, organized by category.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2025 Criminal Justice, Corrections, and Courts Legislation

The Colorado General Assembly passed a variety of criminal justice, corrections, and court-related bills in 2025. The new laws made changes to forensic science, law enforcement, judges and municipal courts, prison policies, and immigration.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
  • General Assembly

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2025 Civil Law Legislation

During the 2025 legislative session, the General Assembly passed a number of measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature updated policies about digital images, law enforcement whistleblower protections, civil rape shield laws, anti‑discrimination, and landowner immunity.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Civil Law
  • Courts & Judicial
  • General Assembly

Final/Annual Reports

2024 Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Final Report

Submitted herewith is the final report of the Legislative Oversight Committee for the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System. The committee was created pursuant to Article 98 of Title 37, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to oversee an advisory task force that studies and makes recommendations concerning persons with behavioral health disorders who are justice-involved.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
  • General Assembly

Final/Annual Reports

2024 Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards Final Report

Pursuant to Section 2-3-1901, C.R.S, the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards (committee) is responsible for adopting and revising standards for Colorado jails. The committee adopted a set of jail standards in 2023. Pursuant to Section 2-3-1901.5, C.R.S, jails must comply with the standards by July 1, 2026.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

Final/Annual Reports

2024 Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Final Report

Submitted herewith is the final report of the Legislative Oversight Committee for the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System. The committee was created pursuant to Article 98 of Title 37, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to oversee an advisory task force that studies and makes recommendations concerning persons with behavioral health disorders who are justice-involved.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
  • General Assembly
  • Human Services

Issue Briefs

Overview of the Office of the Attorney General

The Attorney General is a statewide elected official who acts as the chief legal representative of the state and the chief executive officer of the Department of Law. The Attorney General and the Department of Law together are known as the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. This issue brief provides an overview of the office’s functions.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • State Government

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2024 Civil Law Legislation

During the 2024 legislative session, the General Assembly passed a number of measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature increased consumer protections, regulated debt-related services, allowed for attorney fees in land use decisions, revisited civil protection orders, and updated uniform laws.  

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Civil Law
  • Courts & Judicial
  • General Assembly

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2024 Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems Legislation

The Colorado General Assembly passed a variety of criminal and juvenile justice related bills in 2024. The new laws changed record sealing, criminal penalties, court procedures, behavioral health, bail, recidivism, and other relevant topics.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
  • General Assembly

Final/Annual Reports

2023 Legislative Oversight Committee on Jail Standards Final Report

Pursuant to House Bill 22-1063, the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Colorado Jail Standards (oversight committee) is responsible for overseeing the 22-member Colorado Jail Standards Commission (commission), which was required to recommend standards for the operation of jails in the following areas:

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

Final/Annual Reports

2023 Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems Final Report

Submitted herewith is the final report of the Legislative Oversight Committee for the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System. This committee was created pursuant to Article 98 of Title 37, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to oversee an advisory task force that studies and makes recommendations concerning persons with behavioral health disorders who are justice-involved.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
  • Human Services


Issue Briefs

Law Enforcement Liability

Under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA), public entities and employees are generally immune from liability in all claims except those specifically provided for in state law. In 2020, national and local public demonstrations against excessive use of force by law enforcement prompted the passage of Senate Bill 20-217 which limits qualified immunity for law enforcement officers. This issue brief provides an overview of law enforcement officer actions that are subject to civil or criminal liability.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Civil Law
  • Courts & Judicial
  • State Government

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2023 Civil Law Legislation

During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly examined a number of measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature passed bills that made changes to consumer protections, asset forfeiture, and reproductive and civil rights.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Civil Law
  • Courts & Judicial
  • General Assembly