Colorado top republicans want new type of life sentence poisoning of accused violent criminals

Colorado, "pathway within criminal cases for such defendants to receive treatment and remain confined until they are no longer dangerous, even when the criminal charges must be dropped. The proposal would also shift some court standards and make it easier for people to qualify for involuntary mental health care...197-page Senate Bill 149" https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-149

"just throwing them into the same facility with the same care… can create longer-term problems because they may not be appropriately placed in that setting.” "would create an entirely new type of civil commitment, called an “enhanced protective placement,” for defendants who live with permanent disabilities or conditions like traumatic brain injuries or Alzheimer’s disease...committed either homicide, a crime of violence or a felony sex offense, and poses a substantial risk of serious harm to others

...judges can terminate the commitment if they find the person is no longer a threat to others and is capable and willing to follow the law,...could not find placements for 34% of the group because of systemic barriers like regulations and finances, not because the group members were unwilling."

"Sen. Cleave Simpson, the Senate’s Republican minority leader, is sponsoring the bill with Amabile. (And) The House’s top Democrat and Republican lawmakers — Speaker Julie McCluskie and Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell." https://www.denverpost.com/2026/04/05/colorado-competency-court-reform-bill/

"if the defendant's primary diagnosis includes an IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) or a neurocognitive disorder, the court shall not place the defendant in a state hospital unless placement in a regional center or skilled nursing facility is unavailable or inappropriate...or gravely disabled...(18) "Mental disability" means a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, or cognitive ability that results in marked functional disability, significantly interfering with adaptive behavior. "Mental disability" does not include acute intoxication from alcohol or other substances, or any condition manifested only by antisocial behavior, or any substance abuse impairment resulting from recent use or withdrawal. However, substance abuse that results in a long-term, substantial disorder of thought, mood, or cognitive ability may constitute a mental disability..."Developmental disability" means a disability that has manifested before the person reaches twenty-two years old, constitutes a substantial disability to the affected person, and is attributable to an intellectual disability or other neurological conditions when the conditions result in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of a person with an intellectual disability. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the federal definition of "developmental disability", 42 U.S.C. sec. 15002 (8), does not apply." https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113736/download It seems that being born less intelligent than average gets you poisoned for life at a total cost of "hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Refusing "voluntary" poisoning leads to it being involuntary, which shows it was never optional. Violence is not a mental illness. In my opinion it should be punished with regular jail sober. At least once a year an impaired/"incompetent" accused criminal should be encouraged to try having a trial.

"(C) If possible, when the defendant is diagnosed with a moderate to severe intellectual or AND developmental disability, acquired or traumatic brain injury, or dementia, which either alone or together with a co-occurring disability affects the defendant's ability to gain or maintain competency, the evaluator shall provide an opinion as to SB26-149 1 whether there is a substantial probability that the defendant with restoration services will attain competency within the reasonably foreseeable future. When the opinion is that there is a substantial probability of the defendant is restorable, the competency evaluator shall specifically state whether the competency evaluator believes there are unique or different services outside the standard competency restoration curriculum developed by the department CDHS that the defendant may need in order to be restored to competency within the reasonably foreseeable future."

"defendant's treating physician may petition the court for an order requiring that the defendant accept the treatment or, alternatively, that the medication be forcibly administered to the defendant...appropriate medical personnel provided by the jail may forcibly administer the court-ordered medication to the defendant."

"(IV) THE RIGHT TO PERIODIC REVIEW OF THE CIVIL COMMITMENT AND THE RIGHT TO CONTEST, INCLUDING BY TRIAL, WHETHER THE RESPONDENT QUALIFIES FOR TERMINATION OF CIVIL COMMITMENT...LEAST-RESTRICTIVE PLACEMENT...IF THE COURT FINDS THE RESPONDENT STILL MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR CERTIFICATION FOR SHORT-TERM TREATMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 27-65-108.3 (1), EXTEND THE CERTIFICATION FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF TIME NOT TO EXCEED FOURTEEN DAYS."

Outpatient "TREATMENT PLAN MAY INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: (a) CASE MANAGEMENT; (b) DAY OR PARTIAL-DAY PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES; (c) OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING TREATMENT; (d) EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING OR ACTIVITIES; AND (e) HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE."

"A JURY TRIAL OF NOT MORE THAN SIX INDIVIDUALS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE RESPONDENT MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR TERMINATION PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1)" "16-10-404. Use of a court facility dog - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (b) "Criminal proceeding" or "criminal proceedings" has the same meaning as set forth in section 16-8.5-101." "the victim shall have the right to be informed of, without being present for, the critical stages."