Senate Unanimously Passes Senator Lee’s Bipartisan Bill to Prohibit Monetary Bail
April 8, 2019
Denver, CO – The Colorado State Senate today voted unanimously to pass HB19-1225, No Monetary Bail For Certain Low-level Offenses. This bill, sponsored by Senator Pete Lee (D-El Paso County), would end the requirement for cash bail in Colorado for certain low-level offenses. The bill is now headed to Governor Jared Polis for his signature.
“Our bail system is unfair to many offenders who are not a danger to our communities, but who have to remain in jail because they can’t afford even minimal cash bail,” said Senator Lee. “This change is a crucial part of making our criminal justice system more equitable for all Coloradans.”
HB19-1225 would remove the monetary bond requirement for petty offenses, unclassified offenses, and Class 3 misdemeanors, with several specific exceptions. Defendants would still be allowed to choose to post monetary bail for pretrial release as long as they are aware they would be released regardless if willing to wait for a bond hearing.
“Not every low-level offender or traffic violator has the means to pay their way out of jail. This bill will help reduce incarceration among Coloradans who have not yet been found guilty of anything,” added Senator Lee.To learn more about the details of this legislation, please visit https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1225.
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