Category Archives: News
ACLU and Denver Settle Case of Man Held in Jail Over a $50 fee
December 20, 2018 DENVER — ACLU of Colorado and Denver announced a resolution this morning of Mickey Howard’s lawsuit against the City for jailing him for 4 additional days after a court ordered his release on bond because he could not pay Denver’s additional $50 “bond fee.” Denver has made substantial policy changes and agreed to pay a meaningful monetary payment to Mr. Howard for damages and attorneys’ fees.[1] According to the ACLU lawsuit, when Mr. Howard entered the jail, he.... | Read More
With Colorado’s Corrections Budget Nearing $1 Billion, Advocates Urge State Lawmakers to Explore Alternatives to Opening Another Prison
December 19, 2018 Ahead of Joint Budget Committee's Thursday briefing on proposed DOC budget—which includes nearly $40 million for prison expansion—ACLU of Colorado and CCJRC release memo warning of 'significantly overestimated' prison population growth projections DENVER — As Colorado's corrections budget nears $1 billion, criminal justice reform advocates are urging state lawmakers to explore alternatives to opening another prison in the state. In a memo released Wednesday,.... | Read More
A Year Without Sleep – ACLU & NLCHP Report Finds Durango has Criminalized Sleep for Homeless Residents
December 12, 2018 DENVER – The City of Durango has made sleeping outdoors, even without any cover or shelter, a criminal act for homeless residents who have nowhere else to go, according to a report issued this morning by ACLU of Colorado and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (Law Center) titled A Year Without Sleep: How the City of Durango has criminalized sleep for homeless residents. ACLU of Colorado and the Law Center analyzed citations issued by the Durango police.... | Read More
Judge Rules Colorado Sheriffs Have No Legal Authority to Hold Prisoners for ICE
December 7, 2018 DENVER – State District Court Judge Eric Bentley issued a final ruling last night barring El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder from holding people in jail at the request of federal immigration enforcement (ICE) after they have posted bond, completed their sentence, or otherwise resolved their criminal case. “In issuing a very thorough final ruling that concludes the proceedings in state district court, Judge Bentley explained that Colorado sheriffs have no legal authority to enforce.... | Read More
ACLU Sues Aurora for Brutalizing and Unlawfully Arresting Latino Man
November 20, 2018 ACLU Sues Aurora for Brutalizing and Unlawfully Arresting Latino Man Lawsuit Alleges Widespread Pattern of Racially Biased Policing Denver – The ACLU of Colorado sued the city of Aurora this morning on behalf of Alberto Torres, a Latino man who was illegally ordered out of his home and unjustifiably beaten by Aurora police officers who were called to investigate a noise complaint. According to the lawsuit, Torres was fixing a car in his garage with friends when an.... | Read More
ACLU of Colorado Will Defend Fort Collins Man Who Was a Victim of Selective Enforcement of City’s Anti-Homeless Camping Ban
November 1, 2018 DENVER – The ACLU of Colorado announced this morning that it will represent Adam Wiemold, a homeless man who was charged with illegal “camping” by Fort Collins police for sleeping in his vehicle at a designated rest area where truck drivers regularly sleep in their vehicles undisturbed by police. “At the rest stop, Fort Collins police harass and ticket homeless people for sleeping in their cars, while leaving commercial truckers alone to sleep soundly through the night,”.... | Read More
2018 Voter Guide
The 2018 elections are critical, and we encourage everyone to vote. We do not endorse candidates, but we do take positions on initiatives that impact civil rights and civil liberties. Click here to download your 2018 Voter Guide. This year, ACLU of Colorado has taken the following positions on statewide ballot initiatives: Vote YES on Amendment A to remove slavery from the Colorado constitution: The Colorado constitution currently reads, "There shall never be in this state either slavery.... | Read More
Vote Yes on V to Give Youth a Voice
By Emma Davis Youth Volunteer, ACLU of Colorado October 15, 2018 Since the 2016 election, I have been active in the ACLU of Colorado. I've lobbied, phone-banked, spoken at events and been to countless protests. During the legislative session, I am constantly visiting state legislators, talking to aides and working to convince our representatives to vote “yes” or “no” on certain bills. But I'm still just a teenager. Right now, my opportunities are limited, but someday, I hope to become.... | Read More
27. AG Candidate Phil Weiser
https://soundcloud.com/thepurplestatereport/27-ag-candidate-phil-weiser This November Colorado will vote in an especially critical election with wide implications for civil rights and civil liberties. While the governor and congressional races often garner the most attention the Attorney General race is often overlooked. The Attorney General is the people's lawyer and a legal advocate for all Coloradans. The AG is responsible for protecting our state from overreach by the federal government.... | Read More
ACLU Sues Denver for Jailing Man Who Could Not Pay $50 Fee
October 10, 2018 DENVER – The ACLU of Colorado sued Denver this morning on behalf of Mickey Howard, who was held in the Denver Jail for 5 days after a court ordered his release upon payment of a $10 bond, because he could not pay an additional $50 “bond fee.” According to the lawsuit, Denver has a policy of continuing to imprison people who are unable to pay a $50 “bond fee,” even when they have the money to post the bond amount set by the court. “Mr. Howard was arrested.... | Read More
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