Colorado can lead the country in improving its criminal justice system by prioritizing threats to public safety according to risk, acting in a humane and data-driven manner, and working collaboratively to protect victims and protect public safety.
To the extent we can, we should work to reduce the level of incarceration in Colorado. We must expand and further develop sound and effective alternatives to incarceration where appropriate, including drug treatment and diversion programs (particularly for non-violent and youth offenders that do not pose threats to public safety). In addition to advocating for and supporting such programs, the Department supports cash bail reform to ensure that people charged with a crime are detained pre-trial only if they pose a risk to the public.
The Department of Law’s commitment to supporting public safety includes working in partnership with district attorneys, sheriffs, and chiefs of police on a number of fronts.
- The Special Prosecutions Unit provides valuable expertise and assistance on complex cases, particularly to rural jurisdictions, on a range of matters, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, sexual assaults, and homicides.
- The Criminal Appeals Section coordinates with district attorney offices on appeals and provides legal guidance on complex matters.
- The Department of Law leads on important white collar crime prosecution, including health care fraud, securities fraud, insurance fraud, and environmental crime.
Finally, the Department of Law partners with communities to build better practices in law enforcement. Our Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program provides a national model on training and guiding law enforcement. And our Safe2Tell program collects threats to students—whether planned school shootings, threats of suicide, or bullying and harassment—and enables anonymous tips to be acted upon with the goal of preventing harm to Colorado’s youth.