Big changes are on the horizon for Colorado's youth justice system, with HB25-1146 set to kick in this July. A bipartisan effort backed by Sen. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, the $10 million legislation targets support for juveniles in the criminal justice system, attempting to forge a better path forward for them. The law seeks not just to correct course after a mistake, but weaves a fabric to cradle troubled youth in a supporting community.
Speaking on the law's intentions, Amabile highlighted the benefits, "This new law funds crucial programs to help kids get on the right path after a mistake, and get connected to a community of support," according to Colorado Senate Democrats. Rep. Bird added, "We know that many youth who commit violent crime often lack the support and guidance that they need to build a bright future for themselves. This law invests in programs to reduce recidivism and keep youth out of the justice system in the first place, while also protecting our communities from harm by allowing more flexibility in the use emergency beds in detention centers."
In a move for bipartisanship, the law also has support from Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, and Rep. Dan Woog, R-Erie. With the enactment of HB25-1146, the cap on statewide emergency juvenile detention beds will rise from 22 to 39. This law also calls for the Colorado Department of Human Services to bring clarity to the status of these young detainees by producing a monthly report on the numbers in detention and those waiting for services.
Aiming to mitigate any concerns about staff and juvenile interaction, a pilot program has been approved that requires Department of Youth Services (DYS) staff at one facility to wear body-worn cameras. In addition, over $3 million is allocated to support deflection and community programs, crafting the Deflection and Community Investment Grant Program housed within the Colorado Department of Public Safety. The said program is specifically designed to assist applicants who are implementing programs for youth that are trauma-informed, encompassing health and developmental deflection strategies, including for Native American youth.
Colorado's Department of Youth Services, managing 14 secure youth centers and juvenile parole services, served as the origin point for the previous HB23-1307 in 2023. This prior legislation enabled DYS to administer 22 temporary emergency beds, not impacting the overall detention cap of 215 beds. The latest change signifies an earnest endeavor to enhance both the efficiency and fairness within the juvenile justice system, affecting procedures from case dismissal for minor charges to the very infrastructure intended to uphold the law.
