A bill that would create for when juveniles should be restrained during court hearings passed out of a House committee on Tuesday.
, which is being sponsored by Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver, and Sen. Michael Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, passed out of the on a 6-4 vote. The legislation now moves to the House floor.
Under a 2015 directive from the Colorado Supreme Court, all 22 judicial districts adopted individual policies for determining whether juveniles should be restrained in courtrooms. But defense attorneys and other advocates say the policies are inconsistent and allow too many juveniles to remain in restraints.
They also argue that indiscriminately restraining juveniles can have long-lasting, traumatic effects.
The bill would guarantee that every juvenile and their attorneys be granted a hearing to discuss whether restraints are appropriate. Currently, 16 of the 22 policies do not guarantee a hearing.
Lawmakers who voted against the bill questioned whether the increase in hearings would clog already busy dockets.
