SB 17-087

Senate Bill 17-087 changes how certain sex offenders are sentenced in Colorado. Currently, these offenders must receive a life sentence with no set end date. The new law allows judges to choose between giving an offender a fixed-term sentence or the previous life sentence without a specific end date. Judges have to explain their decision and consider factors like punishment and treatment when making this choice. Since the bill has been signed into law, it means that judges now have more flexibility in sentencing sex offenders based on these new guidelines.

Official Summary

Currently, a court is required to sentence certain sex offenders to an indeterminate sentence that is a maximum of the sex offender's life. The bill allows the court to choose either the indeterminate sentence or a determinate sentence in those cases. The bill addresses the factors related to punishment and treatment that a court must consider when deciding between an indeterminate or a determinate sentence. The court must specify its reasons on the record for choosing either a determinate or an indeterminate sentence. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

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