NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
TWENTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
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Since the introduction of Senate Bill 20-217 (to enhance law enforcement integrity), the (Boulder County) District Attorney’s Office has been working with the legislators and other stakeholders on the legislation. Earlier this week, District Attorney Michael Dougherty testified at the Legislature in support of the bill.
DA Dougherty testified on behalf of all the district attorneys in Colorado. He was honored to testify alongside Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle, who testified on behalf of the County Sheriffs of Colorado.
As a result of the extensive work and collaboration that has gone into this process, all 22 of the elected district attorneys of Colorado and many members of law enforcement joined in support of the final version of the bill.
This office has been, and remains, fully and strongly committed to meaningful criminal justice reform:
• Earlier this year, the District Attorney’s Office was chosen as one of three sites in the nation for the Vera Institute of Justice’s “Reshaping Prosecution” Program. Their data analysis will focus on racial disparities and inequities, to identify patterns in cases and to generate further policy and reform recommendations.
• Our office is working with Prosecutor Impact and Adam Foss to address and implement the shared goal of criminal justice reform. Last year, all attorneys and staff of our office were trained on implicit bias and we held a community forum with over 350 people to discuss reform and racial bias within the criminal justice system.
• We continue to expand our robust diversion and restorative justice programs. Over the past two years, we have expanded it by 350% and now include certain drug cases and felonies. Last year, we diverted more juvenile cases than we prosecuted. Our office maintains a 92% success rate in that program.
• Our office launched the only pre-charging mental health diversion program in the state, as well as the first DA Fresh Start Warrant Forgiveness Program in Colorado.
• Our office actively supports two areas that Boulder County law enforcement agencies are continuing to implement. The first is a co-responder model, where officers on the street are accompanied by a behavioral health specialist to assist people in need and to de-escalate situations with individuals experiencing mental health crisis. Also, our office has been working with law enforcement to further develop and enhance more Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, or LEAD, programs to divert offenders to treatment without having an arrest made at all.
The DA’s office has been able to establish such successful, progressive programs because of the leadership, support, and assistance from the eight law enforcement agencies in Boulder County. Our staff has the honor of working with outstanding men and women in law enforcement every day.
The good work by law enforcement does not excuse bias, misconduct or criminal acts. All of us charged with enforcing our laws should be the first ones to call out injustice and inequities, especially when they emanate from our ranks.
The District Attorney’s Office sincerely thanks the bill sponsors for their leadership: Sen. Rhonda Fields, Senate President Leroy Garcia, Rep. Leslie Herod, and Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, as well as the very significant contributions of Sen. John Cooke, Sen. Bob Gardner, other legislators, and the many community leaders and stakeholders involved in this important effort.
There is a lot of work that remains to be done; our office is committed to it. It has been a painful time for our country, but one which can spur us to move forward and make real progress. True, lasting change will only come from working together.
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