Prosecutors are expected to take proactive, engaged responses to community problems, reduce disparities in justice outcomes, build greater trust through community engagement, and increase prosecutorial transparency and accountability. This requires robust data-driven prosecutorial work. The Colorado Lab, in partnership with the Prosecutorial Performance Indicators Project, is working with District Attorneys’ (DA) Offices from across the […]
Justice
A Deeper Dive into Racial Disparities in Prosecutorial Outcomes
In April 2021, the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab released a report, Racial Disparities in Prosecutorial Outcomes, examining felony cases accepted for prosecution by the Denver District Attorney’s (DA) Office between July 2017 and June 2018. The study found that race and ethnicity were not associated with general plea offers extended. The study did find […]
2021 Legislative Review
Several significant bills passed this legislative session, strengthening opportunities to improve the lives of Colorado residents across the lifespan, from prenatal care to early childhood development to adult services. The Colorado Lab worked together with state and local government agencies, legislators, the Governor’s Office, research colleagues, and subject matter experts to inform this suite of […]
Investigating Allegations of Child Abuse and Neglect
View a brief video about the Colorado Lab-supported study of a collaborative approach to investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect. Dr. Kristin Klopfenstein, Director of the Colorado Lab, and Dr. Anne DePrince of the University of Denver’s Department of Psychology and the study’s principal investigator, spoke with Tiffany Madrid, Director of Legislative Affairs and […]
Colorado Legislature Passes Brain Injury Pilot Program To Reduce Recidivism
We are excited to share that the Colorado legislature approved SB21-138, aimed at improving support for individuals in the criminal justice system with a brain injury. The Colorado Lab-supported study Reducing Recidivism for Justice Involved Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury informed and prompted creation of law. Our research shows that 25-87% of inmates report having […]
DPS and Colorado Judicial Branch Partner with LINC
We are pleased to welcome Denver Public Schools and the Colorado Judicial Branch (adult and juvenile state courts) as new partners to the Linked Information Network of Colorado (LINC). LINC was created through the Lab’s partnership with the Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology to help state and local government agencies harness data to inform […]
Media Coverage: Racial Disparities in Prosecutorial Outcomes
The goal of the study, initiated by the Denver District Attorney’s Office, is to increase transparency and ensure the equitable treatment of defendants. Denver DA Beth McCann held a press event to discuss findings from the study.
Recidivism and Traumatic Brain Injury: A Vicious Cycle
Calls for criminal justice reform ring loud in Colorado. Overburdening of the corrections system is a part of the problem, driven in large part by the state’s rate of recidivism. Half of people convicted of crimes in Colorado return to the criminal justice system within three years. Seeking a deeper understanding of the issue, researchers […]
Colorado Justice Systems Forum: Working Together Toward an Improved Criminal Justice System
The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab, in collaboration with Colorado Governor Jared Polis, the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Colorado Department of Human Services, Colorado Department of Corrections, is proud to co-host the Colorado Criminal Justice Forum. Via a press release from the Colorado Department of Public Safety: “Colorado Governor Jared Polis will host a […]