Balanced Bail Reform: A Safer, Fairer Colorado
Balanced bail reform is about getting this right — protecting our communities while upholding the constitutional rights of the accused. Our current bail system too often fails on both fronts. It can keep low-risk, low-income individuals locked up simply because they can’t afford bail, while not always focusing enough attention on those who pose a genuine threat to public safety.
As a candidate for Governor of Colorado, I believe we can reform our bail system without compromising public safety — and without abandoning fairness.
Why Reform Is Necessary
For many working families, cash bail creates a two-tiered system of justice. If you have money, you go home. If you don’t, you sit in jail — sometimes for weeks or months — before ever being convicted of a crime. That can mean lost jobs, lost housing, and broken families. It also contributes to jail overcrowding and strains taxpayer resources.
At the same time, we have seen what happens when reform goes too far in the wrong direction. Releasing repeat violent offenders without proper safeguards undermines public trust and puts communities at risk. Colorado cannot afford policies driven by ideology instead of facts.
My Campaign’s Approach to Balanced Bail Reform
As Governor, I will pursue a balanced, data-driven approach rooted in three principles:
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Risk-Based Decisions, Not Wealth-Based Detention
Judges should rely on validated risk assessment tools and full case information to determine whether someone is a flight risk or a danger to the community. High-risk and repeat violent offenders should be detained. Low-risk individuals should not sit in jail solely because they lack money. -
Expanded Supervised Release Options
We should strengthen non-monetary conditions such as electronic monitoring, structured reporting, and community supervision programs. These alternatives protect due process while maintaining accountability. -
Accountability and Transparency
Bail reform must include measurable outcomes. We will track reoffense rates, court appearance compliance, and public safety data to ensure policies are working. If something isn’t effective, we adjust it.
Protecting Communities While Preserving Rights
When we focus detention on those who truly pose a threat, we make our communities safer. When we protect the constitutional rights of the accused, we strengthen the integrity of our justice system.
Balanced bail reform allows us to reduce unnecessary pretrial detention, ease overcrowding, and redirect resources toward violent crime prevention, victim services, and rehabilitation programs that reduce repeat offenses.
Colorado First Leadership
This campaign is about practical solutions — not partisan extremes. Colorado deserves leadership that can hold two truths at once: public safety matters, and fairness matters.
As your next Governor, I will work with law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and community leaders to build a bail system that is smart, accountable, and grounded in common sense.
We do not have to choose between safety and justice. We can — and must — deliver both.
— Danny R. Fish
Candidate for Colorado Governor
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Danny R. Fish for Colorado Governor is an independent, Colorado-First campaign focused on practical solutions, strong communities, and accountable leadership. The campaign is dedicated to putting the needs of everyday Coloradans ahead of partisan politics by promoting public safety, economic opportunity, small business growth, government transparency, and policies that protect Colorado’s future.
With a commitment to unity over division, Danny R. Fish’s campaign brings together voters from all backgrounds who believe Colorado deserves common-sense leadership and real results.
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