HB 25-1049

House Bill 25-1049, also known as "Communication Rights for Persons in Custody," updates Colorado law to allow individuals who are arrested or imprisoned to communicate with their attorneys and the attorneys' representatives through phone calls, video conferencing, or other electronic means. This ensures that these conversations are private, unrecorded, and free of charge. The bill has been signed into law, meaning it is now official and must be followed by jails and correctional facilities in Colorado.

Official Summary

Current law allows a person who is committed, imprisoned, or arrested (person in custody) the right to communicate with an attorney or family member by making a reasonable number of telephone calls or through any other reasonable manner. The act adds the attorney's authorized representative to those whom a person in custody can communicate with. Current law allows a person in custody the right to consult with an attorney. The act requires a peace officer or person employed at a place of confinement to provide an attorney or the attorney's authorized representative the ability to initiate communication with a person in custody through telephone calls, interactive audiovisual conferencing, or any other reasonable method of electronic communication, as determined by the jail or correctional facility administration. The communication must be private, unrecorded, and without cost to the confined person and attorney or the attorney's representative, subject to all reasonable administrative and operational procedures. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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