A bipartisan bill introduced at Colorado’s State Capitol seeks to limit the use of personal recognizance (PR) bonds for defendants accused of violent crimes.
State Representative Shannon Bird, a sponsor of the legislation, explained the purpose of House Bill 25-1072: “A PR bond is when somebody is let out on bond without having to post any sort of monetary pledge. It’s based on their promise to appear in court and not commit another crime.”
Under the proposed bill, defendants accused of violent crimes with probable cause and those considered repeat violent offenders would not qualify for a PR bond. Exceptions could be made if the district attorney consents.
The legislation also includes a $7,500 minimum bond requirement for repeat violent offenders, a point of contention during previous debates.
Challenges to the Bill
Bird reintroduced the bill after a similar effort failed last year due to concerns over judicial discretion and fairness.
Some critics argued that the bill undermines a judge’s authority to set bond terms, while others raised equity concerns, pointing out that low-income individuals might be disproportionately affected by the monetary threshold.
“People were concerned that $7,500 as a minimum bond could be punitive for those unable to pay, while wealthier individuals could easily post bond,” Bird explained. “Judges could still impose higher bond amounts, but $7,500 would serve as a baseline.”
Despite these concerns, Bird believes the legislation is a “common sense, reasonable guardrail.”
Real-World Impact
The push for HB25-1072 comes in the wake of violent crimes in Denver. Recently, four people were stabbed along the 16th Street Mall, resulting in two fatalities.
Elijah Caudill, 24, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, and two counts of assault.
Court documents revealed that Caudill was released on a PR bond in November 2024, raising questions about the effectiveness of current pretrial release policies.
Voices from the Community
For families of the victims, like Wayne and Carol Burkett—whose son, Nicholas, was one of the victims—the proposed legislation doesn’t go far enough.
“It feels like a futile attempt to do something,” said Carol. “A $7,500 bond only stops someone who’s homeless.”
Nicholas, who struggled with homelessness and addiction, was remembered by his family as “fun, charismatic, and outgoing.” His death, they say, highlights gaps in the current system.
According to Denver’s 2023 annual report on pretrial services, bond type has not been shown to impact court appearance rates or public safety outcomes.
The report noted, “While the increase in financial bonds will impact which defendants are released from custody, once released, bond type does not correlate with rates of appearance or public safety.”
Next Steps
House Bill 25-1072 has not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing, but it is expected to reignite debates over balancing public safety, fairness, and judicial independence.
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