SB 17-289

Senate Bill 17-289 transfers certain adult offenders who were originally under the care of Colorado's Division of Youth Corrections within the Department of Human Services (DHS) to the Department of Corrections (DOC). This transfer can happen if an individual, aged 18 or older and initially committed for juvenile offenses, is convicted of serious crimes like possessing a deadly weapon, violent crimes, drug possession or distribution, and if DHS determines that they are no longer benefiting from youth programs. Once transferred, these individuals will serve their remaining sentence as adult offenders under DOC's jurisdiction. The bill has been signed into law, meaning it is now official state policy.

Official Summary

The bill states that upon a court order, the department of human services (DHS) may transfer to the department of corrections (DOC) an individual who is at least 18 years of age and committed to the custody of the division of youth corrections within the DHS if: The individual is convicted of possession of contraband in the first degree when the contraband at issue is a deadly weapon; any crime of violence; first-, second-, or third-degree assault; or any offense for the possession or distribution of a controlled substance; and The DHS has certified that the individual is no longer benefitting from its programs or is unfit or unsafe for continued placement in a juvenile facility. Upon entering an order for such a transfer, the court shall issue a mittimus transferring all further jurisdiction over the individual to the DOC. Thereafter, the individual shall serve the unserved portion of his or her juvenile sentence as if he or she had been sentenced as an adult offender for such unserved portion. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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