SB20-217 Summary

• Requires all local law enforcement agencies and Colorado State Patrol to equip peace officers with body-worn cameras by July 1, 2023, with cameras to be activated during calls for service and public interactions, with specified exceptions for undercover work and administrative discussions.

• Establishes mandatory release of unedited body camera footage to the public within 21 days of a misconduct complaint, with limited redactions for privacy concerns, and creates a permissive inference that missing footage reflects misconduct if an officer fails to activate the camera.

• Prohibits use of chokeholds by peace officers and restricts deadly force to situations where the suspect poses an immediate threat; requires officers to use nonviolent means before resorting to physical force.

• Mandates peace officers to intervene to prevent excessive force by other officers and makes failure to intervene a Class 1 misdemeanor; requires written incident reporting and protection from retaliation for officers who report misconduct.

• Creates a civil cause of action against peace officers for deprivation of constitutional rights without qualified immunity, eliminates governmental immunity defenses, and establishes mandatory reporting requirements to the Division of Criminal Justice on use of force, contacts, and officer conduct.