Last Day Compromise Saves Colorado Juvenile Murderer Bill
DENVER (CBS4) - It took until the final hours of Colorado's legislative session for the legislature to finish up one of the most emotional issues they've struggled with.
After a last-minute compromise Wednesday night and a landslide vote, some of Colorado's youngest murderers now have possible a path to freedom, pending a signature from the governor.
Prosecutors across Colorado fought the bill that would allow for parole eligibility for juveniles convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. There was also a threat by some opponents of a filibuster. Those efforts failed as the last bill of the session was voted through.
Nearly every representative in the Colorado House of Representatives voted for the measure, which would require the Colorado Department of Corrections to open a pathway out of incarceration for the young offenders.
"It still preserves what we're trying to do, which is to give juveniles the opportunity to show that they have in fact learned a better way to handle things," said State Rep. Beth McCann, a Democrat who represents Denver.
Under the bill, offenders who committed first degree murder could be granted parole once they finish a special program.
The bill nearly failed before lawmakers tacked on five years to the length of required time served before the juvenile inmates can begin the process. That means a juvenile sentenced to life could be allowed into the parole process after 30 years instead of 25 in prison.
Despite widespread agreement after the change was made, one of the bill's sponsors, Rep. Yeulin Willet of Grand Junction, said he was so offended by the compromise that he decided he wanted the bill to fail.
"I don't like the bill. I'll vote no on the bill now, and I'll ask that my name be removed as a co-sponsor," said Willet, a Republican.
The last-minute drama could have blown up a rare instance of bipartisanship on the last day of the legislative session.
Some of the state's top priorities could not be addressed in this year's session due to the political divide, and many are calling it a lost effort.
On Tuesday, lawmakers passed the bill's sibling which outlaws life sentences without paroles for juveniles. That bill also passed easily.
