The following points are offered as basic implementation guidance for the selection, use, and administration of and training on pretrial risk assessment to all Colorado counties and jurisdictions in order to set bond and establish conditions of release for felony and misdemeanor level offenses:

- The Colorado Pretrial Assessment Tool (CPAT) shall be the recommended assessment tool; however, any jurisdiction may utilize an alternative assessment tool to improve pretrial decision making subject to the approval of the Chief Judge of the Judicial District.

- The State Court Administrator is responsible to compile an inventory of approved pretrial risk assessments available and authorized for use in Colorado.

- Any alternative tool approved by a Chief Judge must be empirically developed/validated and consistent with setting the type of bond and conditions of release; however, this does not prohibit a jurisdiction from utilizing additional assessment tools to advance pretrial decisions.

- Any individual authorized to administer pretrial risk assessment for the Court, shall receive introductory training.  

- The Office of the State Court Administrator (SCAO) in consultation with the Colorado Association of Pretrial Service Agencies (CAPS) shall develop and provide standards for training and fidelity measurement of the Colorado Pretrial Assessment Tool (CPAT).  

- If an alternative pretrial risk assessment tool is approved for use by the Chief Judge of a judicial district, the SCAO shall also review and approve any training protocol and plan to ensure measures are in place to measure assessor fidelity to the instrument.  

- In order to preserve neutrality in the assessment process, prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys shall not be authorized to administer a pretrial risk assessment for purposes of setting bond and establishing conditions of release.

To improve adult pretrial-related services throughout the state of Colorado through education and improved data collection, this recommendation proposes the following:

- Request the State Court Administrator's Office (SCAO) to establish, identify, and develop a core curriculum around the best practices of pretrial and the pretrial process to disseminate to participating stakeholders;  

- Encourage major pretrial stakeholders to participate in new hire and regular pretrial training via the SCAO curriculum. The major stakeholders recommended for inclusion are: Colorado District Attorneys' Council (CDAC), SCAO, State Public Defender, Alternate Defense Council, Pretrial Services, and law enforcement;

- Recommend the SCAO have primary oversight over curriculum development and maintenance, dissemination, and follow-up of individual stakeholder training protocols;

- Recommend the SCAO implement evaluation protocols assessing the effectiveness of pretrial process through appropriate and data collection procedures.

Officials from the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) will work with staff from the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CBHC) to review and include Mental Health First AidŽ training through POST for the purpose of training up to 200 officers per month on this topic with training beginning in the spring of 2017.

Officials from the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) will work with staff from the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CBHC) to review the Mental Health First AidŽ curriculum, and modify when possible, for inclusion in the POST basic academy standard curriculum.

Revise C.R.S. 24-31-314 (1) to clarify that Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) training should take place during POST (Peace Officer Standard and Training) continuing education and advanced training, rather than during basic academy peace officer training.

 

The Drug Policy Task Force recommends amending section C.R.S. 24-31-314 as follows:

24-31-314. Advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement training.

(1) On and after October 1, 2013, the P.O.S.T. Board is encouraged to include advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement training in the curriculum for persons who enroll in a training academy for basic peace officer training AS AN ELECTIVE TO BASIC FIELD SOBRIETY TEST (BFST) TRAINING RECERTIFICATION.

 

(2) Subject to the availability of sufficient moneys, the P.O.S.T. Board shall arrange to provide training in advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement to drug recognition experts who will act as trainers in advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement for all peace officers described in section 16-2.5-101, C.R.S.

The General Assembly should invest in EPIC as an evidence-based initiative that is consistent with the Commission's mandate to focus on "evidence-based recidivism reduction initiatives and the cost-effective expenditure of limited criminal justice funds." Permanent funding ensures the expansion of EPIC statewide, and would expand training to local justice agencies.

Individuals from, but not limited to, the Sex Offender Management Board, the Judicial Department, law enforcement, the Department of Corrections, and the EPIC project* shall collaborate to develop and provide a uniform curriculum of sex offender training modules that could be offered to various groups (supervising officers, treatment providers, community corrections staff, State Board of Parole, judges, legislators, law enforcement, etc.). It is anticipated that training could be offered more frequently and consistently through this collaborative effort to address such topics as information on the Lifetime Supervision Act, an overview of the SOMB standards, motivational interviewing, and trauma informed treatment.

 

*The Evidence-Based Practice Implementation for Capacity project would require funding to continue beyond its current funding conclusion date. See cdpsweb.state.co.us/cccjj/epic.html.

 

*Colorado Association of Community Corrections Boards

**Governor's Community Corrections Advisory Council

Technological advances should be explored to provide long distance learning opportunities so that to individuals registered in these classes will not lose time or momentum when transferred to a different facility.

Any statutory impediment to inmates' access to or funding of post-secondary education should be eliminated.