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: 2026-01-22 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Download File
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: 2026-01-19 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Agriculture Business & Economic Development Courts & Judicial Health Care & Health Insurance Download File
Staff Publications Crime Classification Guide (2025) This guide is a compilation of crimes and traffic infractions in Colorado. Release date: 2026-01-15 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement Download File
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: 2026-01-02 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Children & Domestic Matters Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement Telecommunications & Information Technology Download File
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: 2025-12-16 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement General Assembly Human Services Download File
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: 2025-12-12 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement Health Care & Health Insurance Human Services Local Government State Government Download File
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: 2025-11-28 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Civil Law Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement Download File
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: 2025-10-03 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement Download File
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: 2025-09-30 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Download File
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: 2025-09-08 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Download File
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: 2025-08-28 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement Download File
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: 2025-06-12 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement General Assembly Download File
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: 2025-06-10 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Civil Law Courts & Judicial General Assembly Download File
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: 2024-12-31 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement General Assembly Download File
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: 2024-12-19 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement Download File
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: 2024-12-13 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement General Assembly Human Services Download File
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: 2024-11-25 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial State Government Download File
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: 2024-09-27 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Civil Law Courts & Judicial General Assembly Download File
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: 2024-08-27 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement General Assembly Download File
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: 2024-01-17 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement Download File
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: 2024-01-17 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement Human Services Download File
Final/Annual Reports 2023 Jail Standards Commission Final Report Release date: 2023-11-20 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement General Assembly Download File
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: 2023-08-24 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Civil Law Courts & Judicial State Government Download File
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: 2023-08-09 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Civil Law Courts & Judicial General Assembly Download File
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of Criminal and Juvenile Justice System 2023 Major Legislation During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly passed an array of measures concerning the criminal and juvenile justice system. Release date: 2023-07-21 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement General Assembly Download File