SENTENCING-REFORM BILL CLEARS FIRST HURDLE

DENVER-The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony and voted
unanimously to support HB 1352, sponsored by Rep. Mark Waller,
R-Colorado Springs, Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, and Senator Shawn
Mitchell, R-Broomfield. The legislation is based on recommendations
approved by the Colorado Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice.
Included in the legislation is the reduction in sentences for drug use
and possession, reduction of penalties for some marijuana offenses and
the creation of a new crime with enhanced sentencing for drug
distribution by an adult to a minor.

Testifying on behalf of the bill were Tom Raynes, deputy attorney
general; Maureen Cain, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, Mark Randall;
Colorado District Attorneys Council; and Paul Thompson, assistant
director of Peer 1 and an ex-drug offender.

The legislation has widespread bi-partisan support, and has been
endorsed by more than 50 community organizations including the
Colorado Association of Police Chiefs, Colorado Sheriff's Association,
Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, Drug Endangered Children,
Prison Fellowship and the Independence Institute.

Rep. Waller introduced the bill to the Committee, explaining that
HB1352 "reduces some of the drug felonies for possession-only drug
offenses, and takes the savings and applies it towards treatment. The
fiscal savings projected over next five years is in the neighborhood
of $50 million. But that is not all this bill is about. This
legislation will make our communities safer and gives us the best bang
for our public safety dollars."

Tom Raynes and Maureen Cain presented joint testimony in support the
legislation, reviewing the changes in sentencing law based upon the
recommendations of the CCJJ Drug Policy Task Force, of which both are
members.

"We can do something better with drug addicts that doesn't jeopardize
public safety, reduces recidivism and saves money," Raynes said. "It
is in many ways a paradigm shift . the way to deal with these offenses
is with ongoing meaningful evaluations and ongoing treatment."

Personal testimony came from Paul Thompson, an ex-drug offender who
has worked for Peer 1, a drug and alcohol treatment program for 21
years and is currently the program's assistant director.

"I was addicted to heroin for 16 years," Thompson told the panel. "All
of my crimes were drug related. I never had the opportunity for
treatment; never knew about treatment. But now I work in the treatment
realm. I go to the prisons and work with the people who were 'me.' For
someone like myself, this is like watching man land on the moon.
Watching district attorneys and public defenders working together to
help an addict - it's an incredible thing."

HB 1352 is based on recommendations approved by the Colorado
Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), created by the
legislature to develop strategies to reduce recidivism, promote public
safety and protect the rights of victims. The a 26-member commission
includes representatives from every spectrum of the criminal justice
system, including the Attorney General, legislators, sheriffs, police
chiefs, district attorneys, public defenders, parole board, judges,
treatment providers, and victim advocates.

Judiciary Committee Chair Claire Levy commended the efforts of the
commission and the bill sponsors.

"To get a bill of this magnitude in front of us with bipartisan
sponsorship, with the support of the Attorney General and criminal
defense bar, shows that remarkable work has happened," she said. "This
is historic."

HB 1352 is co-sponsored by every member of the House Judiciary
Committee. The bill now goes to the House Appropriations Committee
before being heard by the full House.