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Prosecutors, regulation enforcement, and the governor have recognized auto theft as a precedence within the upcoming legislative session.
Colorado is primary within the nation for the speed of stolen automobiles. Since 2019, auto theft within the Denver metro space has elevated 152%. Each county, excluding Broomfield, has seen elevated car thefts in comparison with final yr.
Prosecutors say the penalties merely aren’t stiff sufficient. New information exhibits that 43% of individuals convicted of auto theft obtain probation or a deferred sentence.
Governor Polis met with the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council and instructed them addressing auto theft was one among his prime priorities this upcoming legislative session. The Governor’s finances proposal contains $12.5 million to fund deputy district attorneys devoted to auto theft circumstances.
“The truth that the Governor of the state of Colorado is speaking about serving to native prosecutors tackle this drawback is extraordinary and far appreciated,” Boulder County District Legal professional Michael Dougherty mentioned.
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Auto theft circumstances are overwhelming many district legal professional workplaces, that are funded primarily by county governments. District attorneys blame lenient sentencing partially.
A regulation handed final yr made thefts of automobiles price $2,000 or much less a misdemeanor. The district legal professional council is pushing to make nearly all auto theft felonies, whatever the automotive’s worth.
seventeenth Judicial District Legal professional Brian Mason says the regulation discriminates in opposition to poor individuals.
“If any individual steals a 2022 Tesla they’re charged with a high-level felony but when they steal a 1995 or 2000 Honda Accord, it is a misdemeanor. And who drives the Honda? Somebody with fewer means,” Mason mentioned.
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Mason says the regulation additionally makes it too straightforward for criminals to assert ignorance. Prosecutors should show a defendant knew the automotive was stolen. The district attorneys are pushing to alter the wording to “moderately ought to have recognized.”
“In order that automotive thieves cannot get off primarily based on a flimsy excuse,” Mason mentioned.
Regardless of the present wording of the regulation, 18th Judicial District Legal professional John Kellner says district attorneys are aggressively prosecuting automotive thieves.
“We’re submitting extra circumstances within the 18th than we have ever filed earlier than for automotive theft,” Kellner mentioned.
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The District Attorneys’ Council says 83% of these circumstances have resulted in convictions however many of the defendants obtain probation or a deferred sentence and Kellner says lots of them go on to commit different crimes. Almost 40 % of auto thefts are linked to violent crimes or drug crimes.
Kellner says, “One factor constantly see with individuals stealing automobiles use automotive commit aggravated theft steal atm from inside.”
He says bond reform can also be wanted. Knowledge from the 18th Judicial District exhibits, during the last three years, 60% of auto thieves launched on public recognizance bonds reoffended inside about 9 months, whereas 20% of those that obtained money bonds did.
Whereas the district attorneys agree the regulation wants to alter, Dougherty says they’re additionally dedicated to sustaining equity.
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“We’re reacting in a second of disaster of auto theft strike 5-10 years should not have to alter regulation once more as a result of adjusted too excessive too far,” Dougherty mentioned.
The district attorneys’ council plans to carve out a misdemeanor for so-called joyride circumstances, during which a automotive is returned inside 24 hours with no harm and no different crime being dedicated.
Dougherty says the Colorado Bureau of Investigation additionally wants extra assets to course of DNA and fingerprints from stolen automobiles. Whereas most automobiles are recovered, few thieves are apprehended.
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