Coloradans in Pre-trial Detention
Innocent people languishing in jail is a violation of their constitutional rights.
For 52 days I waited in jail to see a judge, I felt powerless and worried about my future. I lost my home and my job during that jail stay. I’m putting my life back together now. But it is time for Colorado Sheriffs to make sure this never happens again in their jails.”
– Michael Bailey
Michael Bailey
Michael Bailey was jailed for 52 days without even seeing a judge
for his first appearance and bond setting. Mr. Bailey was held in Teller County Jail without bond on a 4-year-old misdemeanor warrant from Pueblo County. When the sheriffs finally transferred him to the Pueblo County Court, he was immediately released on a personal recognizance bond. All of the charges against him were dismissed soon afterward.
52 brutal days in jail cost Mr. Bailey close to everything. He lost two month’s pay, his job and his housing — all for nothing. Mr. Bailey filed a lawsuit that resulted in a substantial monetary payment and policy changes in Pueblo and Teller Counties. But weeks long delays in seeing a judge continue across Colorado while people like Mr. Bailey lose precious time.
Michelle Reynolds
Ms. Reynolds spent 15 days in jail while waiting for a bond setting.
In August 2019, Ms. Reynolds was arrested in Mesa County on a no bond warrant out of Boulder County. Her attorney repeatedly contacted the Sheriff’s office and the court requesting for transport to Boulder County or for the Mesa County judge to set bond, to no avail. Instead, Ms. Reynolds sat in the Mesa County jail for more than two weeks after her arrest, waiting for transport to Boulder.
When Ms. Reynolds, who had no criminal history, finally appeared before a judge in Boulder County, she was immediately released on a PR bond. Soon after the entire case was dismissed, and her arrest was sealed. While in jail, Ms. Reynolds lost her job as a hospice caregiver, and her family continues to be subjected to serious financial hardship as a result of her incarceration. She suffers daily from the emotional trauma of her experience.
“Before August 23, 2019, I had no first-hand experience with the criminal justice system. Daily, innocent people who have been falsely accused of a crime, are forced to sit in jail for far more than 48 hours, up to weeks before seeing a judge. The justice system is broken, the idea of innocent until proving guilty no longer exists.
That is unacceptable, and I’m determined to make a change.”
– Michelle Reynolds
We’re building a coalition.
We are stronger together. Let’s work together to protect our most vulnerable neighbors in Colorado from the harms of the criminal INjustice system.