mental illness
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Colorado passes first legislation for eating disorder prevention — with some rollbacks
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For the first time in state history, the Colorado legislature last week passed measures to specifically address the issue of eating disorders. If signed into law by the governor, Senate Bill 14 will create a statewide program to educate and maintain a resource bank on disordered eating research, prevention, intervention and treatments. Senate Bill 176 will prohibit insurance providers…
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10th Circuit says Cherry Creek schools did not fail obligations to special ed student
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The federal appeals court based in Denver has found Cherry Creek School District did not breach its legal obligation to provide special education services to a mentally-troubled teenager, despite waiting until the student threatened to “shoot up” his school before concluding he had a serious emotional disability. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures children…
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Shooting by Thornton officer during standoff justified, 17th Judicial DA finds
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The 17th Judicial District Attorney declined to file any criminal charges against Thornton police officers for an incident in March in which they shot a man in the foot during a standoff. The man shot at officers and later killed himself, according to a decision letter from District Attorney Brian Mason. The investigation didn’t conclusively…
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Rights of mentally ill defendants under scrutiny of state Supreme Court
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A combination of factors made the case of Ari Misha Liggett unusual, including the crime for which he was convicted: poisoning and dismembering his mother in October 2012. But Liggett is now trying to convince the Colorado Supreme Court the criminal prosecution against him has broader implications for whether mentally ill defendants have a right…
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Appeals court rejects ‘low functioning’ defendant’s claim he was incompetent to stand trial
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Despite his defense lawyers’ repeated concerns that his mental abilities were deteriorating and he failed to absorb meaningful information about his criminal proceedings, a man was not entitled to yet another evaluation after numerous psychologists found him competent to stand trial, the state’s Court of Appeals has ruled. A Denver jury convicted Matthew F. Rodriguez…
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Colorado legislature OKs diverting people with mental health issues out of jail
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The Colorado legislature approved a bill to prevent people with mental health issues from entering the criminal justice system, instead sending them to treatment centers to address their needs. The state House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 10 in a 61-1 vote Tuesday, following the state Senate’s unanimous vote last month. The bill will now…
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Democrat Jason Crow calls on Mike Coffman to return NRA money, ‘take action’ on gun measures
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Democratic challenger Jason Crow on Thursday called on U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman to return campaign donations the Aurora Republican has received from the National Rifle Association and urged the incumbent to “act now to pass commonsense gun safety reform” the day after a mass shooting at a Florida high school left 17 dead and 14…
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THE PODIUM: The law must stand between guns and mental illness
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In the wake of the tragic shooting in Douglas County on Dec. 31, we have learned that law enforcement officials had considered taking action to reduce the possibility of this sort of event some time before it happened, but there had been no actual criminal behavior on which to act. If Colorado had the appropriate…
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Out West Roundup: Utah town headed toward keeping booze prohibition
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Utah Utah town headed toward keeping booze prohibition SALT LAKE CITY – One of Utah’s last “dry” communities is on track to maintain its eight-decade prohibition on alcohol sales after voters rejected a measure to allow sales that proponents said would boost tourism and opponents said would threaten the small city’s way of life. Following…
