Justice Department Opens Civil-Rights Probe of Colorado Prisons and Youth Facilities

Overview

• Investigators will review Colorado DOC and DYS policies and practices to determine whether people in custody receive protections guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
• The review proceeds under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, with additional authority under RLUIPA for DOC and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act for DYS.
• In a letter to Gov. Jared Polis, the department cited concerns about medical care, sanitary conditions, protection of youth from excessive force, adequate nutrition, and potential religious-rights violations related to housing biological males in female units.
• The Civil Rights Division said it has reached no conclusions and invited tips through civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
• Recent reporting detailed significant weight loss among youths at the Pueblo Youthful Offender System and a hospitalization attributed by family to malnourishment, as well as internal reports of excessive force, contraband, and staff sexual misconduct in youth facilities.