Governor Jared Polis recently expressed his willingness to cooperate with federal authorities to detain and deport dangerous criminals during his State of the State address. In response, Republican lawmakers Rep. Jarvis Caldwell and Sen. Rod Pelton have introduced House Bill 1140, which would allow employees in Colorado’s criminal justice system to work with federal immigration authorities. The bill would permit parole and probation officers to provide personal information about individuals on probation for serious violent felony offenses to federal authorities.
The bill is based on Proposition 128, approved by voters last November, which requires those convicted of the most serious crimes to serve more of their sentences. However, the bill is drawing concerns from the American Civil Liberties Union due to eligibility issues and privacy concerns. Most individuals convicted of first-degree murder or first-degree kidnapping are ineligible for parole, and those eligible for felony probation cannot have multiple felony convictions, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the bill.
The ACLU is worried about the potential privacy violations that could occur if personal information about individuals on parole or probation is disclosed to federal authorities, as it could also impact the rights of their family members. The bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee and is set for its first hearing on February 11. Governor Polis had hoped for bipartisan support but has yet to engage in discussions regarding the bill with the lawmakers.
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