DENVER – In a letter from Public Policy Director Denise Maes, the ACLU of Colorado strongly urged Governor Hickenlooper to sign HB 17-1313, a bill passed by more than three-fourths of the Colorado legislature to rein in civil asset forfeiture and ensure that property seizures in Colorado abide by due process protections in Colorado law.
“Civil asset forfeiture reform passed the legislature by a combined vote of 81 to 19. It was supported by Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, progressives and just about everyone in between,” said Maes.  “Coloradans want and deserve stronger protections when property is taken by police, and Governor Hickenlooper should not unilaterally stand in the way of bipartisan reform.”
Civil asset forfeiture is a controversial practice in which law enforcement can seize – and then keep or sell – any property, including cash, vehicles, and even homes, that they allege is involved in a crime.
In 2002, the Colorado legislature strengthened Colorado’s civil forfeiture law, but police departments have increasingly avoided the requirements of that law by teaming up with federal agencies and seizing property under much less stringent federal law.  In 2014 alone, $13.5 million in assets were seized in Colorado under federal law.  HB 17-1313 closes that loophole by providing a clear incentive for property with a net worth of $50,000 or less to be seized under state law, not federal law.
“Opponents argue that HB 1313 will make crime fighting more difficult because if there are less forfeiture actions under federal law, local law enforcement agencies will get less money and, therefore, not be able to fight crime. This position is untenable and frankly, I’m surprised this argument is asserted with such vigor,” Maes wrote in the ACLU letter, which was sent by email to Governor Hickenlooper yesterday evening.
“Forfeiture was originally presented as a way to cripple large-scale criminal enterprises by diverting their resources. This argument by the opponents underscores the problem with forfeiture in that many police departments use forfeiture to benefit their bottom lines, making seizures motivated by profit rather than crime-fighting.”
HB 17-1313 also increases transparency into police forfeiture activities.  Departments will be required to detail to the public when they use civil asset forfeiture and list what was taken and what ultimately happened to the property.  Law enforcement will also have to report if the person from whom the property was taken was ever charged with or convicted of a crime.
“We ask that you reject the arguments set forth by the opponents of HB 1313. Forfeiture actions in Colorado should abide by Colorado law,” Maes wrote. “This bill returns us to the Colorado way and it’s a way that better protects the due process rights of Coloradans.”
Resources:

Read the ACLU of Colorado letter:
https://aclu-co.org/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ACLULetterCivilAsset6517.pdf

At our 2017 Annual Meeting, we were proud to recognize the significant contributions to civil rights and civil liberties of The Coalition for Compassion and Action, Xavier Long, Kristin Fasy, Rosie Piller, and Nancy Sobel.

The Coalition for Compassion and Action, a grassroots activist organization focused on protecting the rights of people who are poor and vulnerable and opposing criminalization of homelessness in Colorado Springs,  was awarded the 2017 Civil Rights in Action Award.
Since its founding in 2016, the Coalition for Compassion and Action has mobilized hundreds of volunteers, connected individuals and families with services, and had a significant impact on policy debates at the Colorado Springs City Council.


Xavier Long, who bravely spoke out for reform of youth corrections, was honored with the 2017 Youth in Action Award.  Xavier endured violence and mistreatment while incarcerated. He told his story in a web video, testified before the legislature, and lobbied lawmakers for culture-changing legislation to protect other kids in youth facilities.


Kristin Fasy, Rosie Piller, and Nancy Sobel were recognized as 2017 Arlette Baer Volunteers of the Year.
Kristin Fasy devoted hundreds of hours to conducting legal research into health standards and procedures in the Colorado Department of Corrections.  She read through prisoner letters, visited inmates, listened to their stories, and organized the information for our legal department. She sees the humanity in every person she has spoken with and strives to make sure they’re treated with dignity and compassion.
Rosie Piller developed easy-to-understand visual presentations for our volunteer speakers' bureau.  Her work has been viewed by thousands of people across Colorado - people who have benefited from the countless hours that she put into them.  She's tackled complicated issues - Know Your Rights, Voting Rights, ACLU History, and made them simple to teach and understand. She’s meticulous, persistent and dedicated to the work of the ACLU, and her contribution has been immeasurable.
Nancy Sobel volunteered for three years in our intake department.  She read hundreds of letters – some of them heartbreaking – and made sure every person received consideration and a reply. Nancy re-organized our intake database to make it easier to spot patterns of abuse and follow up on them.  She was consistent, reliable and enthusiastic, and we’re extremely grateful for all of her hard work and support.
 

The post-mortem on this year's legislative session has been mostly positive. Lawmakers are being applauded for their willingness to place good policy-making above partisan politics. Governor Hickenlooper referred to the 2017 session as "the most productive" since he took office in 2011.
Legislators made big news for finding common ground on some of the state's most critical issues, like construction defects reform and addressing the hospital provider fee. Lawmakers also found common ground - most of the time - on legislation affecting civil rights and civil liberties.
For almost three years now, the ACLU has been working with the Division of Youth Corrections attempting to reverse the punitive culture that has been pervasive within the Division. Earlier in the year, the ACLU, along with other child advocates, released Bound and Broken, a report documenting the harsh and punitive nature of DYC practices. DYC has for years relied heavily on the use of solitary confinement, a full-body straitjacket called the WRAP, pain compliance techniques, knee strikes, leg irons and handcuffs to control kids. This punitive culture endangers both staff and kids. As the state legislature has given DYC more and more money over the years, violence has increased. More money alone is clearly not the answer.
Relying on the facts presented in Bound and Broken and other evidence revealed through investigative journalism, Representatives Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs) and Lois Landgraff (R-Fountain) sponsored HB 1329 -- legislation that mandates DYC retain an outside consultant to evaluate all Division facilities and make recommendations to bring DYC in line with best practices.  It also requires the Division to work with an independent consultant to develop a pilot program that relies on non-punitive approaches to caring for kids. The bill also changes the name from the Division of Youth Corrections to the Division of Youth Services and establishes the mission as rehabilitative rather than punitive.
The bill received unanimous support in the House. In the Senate, after some legislative procedural acrobatics, it passed with bipartisan support in a 21-14 vote. It was sponsored by Senators Daniel Kagan (D-Cherry Hills) and Don Coram (R-Durango). The legislation really had only one vocal opponent - Senator Kent Lambert (R-Colorado Springs) and thankfully, his voice was overwhelmed by the majority of those seeking much needed reform.
The ACLU continued its work on municipal courts and correcting harsh penalties that largely affect poor people and particularly people of color in the criminal justice system, and these efforts received great bipartisan support. After extensive research, the ACLU discovered that many people incarcerated on minor municipal offenses – including park hours violations and open container – were held in jail for days and even weeks on end just waiting to see a judge. These individuals were stuck in jail only because they were too poor to post bond.  HB 1338 begins to address this problem by requiring that municipal inmates who are not brought before a judge within 48 hours or 72 hours over a weekend, will be automatically released from jail on their own recognizance. This bill garnered unanimous support from both chambers. The bill was sponsored by Representative Jeff Bridges (D-Cherry Creek) and Senator Vickie Marble (R-Broomfield).
HB 1168, another bill supported by ACLU of Colorado, decriminalizes “Driving Under Revocation” when one's license was revoked because of an unpaid traffic ticket. Currently, the Department of Motor Vehicles revokes on average 205,000 driver's license each year. Many of these revocations occur for extremely minor infractions simply because people cannot afford to pay their fines, creating a vicious cycle that punishes people for their poverty. Under HB 1168, jail time is no longer a penalty when a person drives with a license that was revoked simply because they failed to pay. Although the ACLU would have preferred to see revocations for inability to pay eliminated altogether, rendering driving in this scenario to a civil offense is a step in the right direction. We thank Representative Matt Gray (D-Adams County) and Senator Bob Gardner (R-Colorado Springs) for sponsoring this legislation, which passed both chambers with strong bipartisan support.
Other ACLU-supported bills which passed with bipartisan support included Campus Free Speech and Asset Forfeiture Reform. Lawmakers also came together to support legislation that requires insurers to cover a 12-month supply of contraception for women. This legislation has been defeated in the past, but this session, it found bipartisan sponsorship and votes in both chambers. Also of great significance, the Republican-controlled Senate voted down a bill that would have mandated ultrasounds and a waiting period for women seeking an abortion. The bill – titled Women's Right to Accurate Health Care - was voted down 19-16.
These victories didn't prevent several legislative attempts to limit women's access to reproductive care. The House alone saw five bills that would have done just that. One such bill, predicated on "junk science," would have required doctors to inform women about an "abortion reversal" pill. Another bill would have enacted personhood, subjecting anyone performing an abortion to the criminal charge of first degree murder, the potential penalty for which is the death penalty. Personhood has been resoundingly defeated by Colorado voters multiple times.
Partisan politics also persisted in the area of LGBT rights, immigrant rights and a key area of criminal justice reform. For the second year in a row, the Senate State Affairs committee voted down bills that would have limited the use of conversion therapy and made it easier for one to change their gender marker on their birth certificate. Both bills were defeated on a party line vote.
The legislature also refused to advance legislation that intended to benefit our immigrant and refugee communities. And a Senate committee rejected a bill that would have repealed the death penalty. We thank Minority Leader Senator Lucia Guzman for her persistence and passion on this issue.
Much can be and was accomplished in 120 days. ACLU's policy work, of course, continues beyond the legislative session. The policy team will continue to persist in advancing civil liberties and resist attempts to take us backward. Sine die.