1-minute voter guide: Amendments H and I, and Propositions 128 and 130
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Four ballot questions focus on criminal justice that could change how suspected criminals, judges and police officers are treated.
Why it matters: Collectively, they would reimagine certain elements of the Colorado criminal justice system.
Zoom in: Here's what to know about each:
Amendment H: This measure would change the Colorado Constitution by creating an independent board overseeing ethical misconduct hearings involving judges and granting greater public access to disciplinary proceedings.
- It would establish the Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board, taking disciplinary responsibility away from the Colorado Supreme Court.
Amendment I: This measure would change the Colorado Constitution by allowing judges to deny bail to people charged with first-degree murder in certain cases.
- It's meant to offer some clarity about awarding bail after Colorado repealed the death penalty in 2020.
- Before its repeal, anyone charged with a capital offense was denied bail. Right now, a person charged with first-degree murder is eligible to be freed on bail.
Context: As constitutional questions, Amendment H and I would need 55% to pass.
Proposition 128: This measure would change state laws by increasing the time someone convicted of a violent crime must serve before becoming eligible for parole or time reductions.
- It would render a person convicted of a violent crime for a third time ineligible for either option.
- People convicted of violent crimes like murder, sexual assault, aggravated robbery, etc. would have to serve at least 85% — up from the current 75% — of their sentence before they're eligible for parole under this proposal.
Proposition 130: This measure would direct the state to spend $350 million to recruit, train and retain local law enforcement, and provide a one-time, $1 million benefit to families of officers killed on duty.
- However, the measure doesn't say how the money will be raised.
It doesn't specify whether more money will be raised by new taxes or borrowing, and will likely mean state lawmakers will need to find other public services to cut to cover costs, reports the Colorado Sun.