Re: Colorado HB 1382

Dear Senator:

We write in opposition to this dangerous measure, HB 1382.

The Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics has just issued results of a massive study to determine the performance of financially secured pretrial release vs. persons otherwise released pending their trial.

The only conclusion to be drawn from that study, as well as a number of others on the subject, is: The more you increase the number of unsecured releases the greater will be the crime rate in the community. We will provide you those studies if you contact me at (800) 935-2245.

The advocates for the much more dangerous “non-secured release” approach, under HB 1382, would be the very people who select the form of release that would be available to the defendant.

These, incidentally, are the same people who want to do away with the more sound financially secured release approach.

May we please recommend that before acting upon HB 1382 you assign the matter to a study committee to determine two things: (1) What would be the adverse financial impact to Colorado should the bill pass and (2) what would be the demonstrably negative effect upon public safety.

We can assure you that the financial loss to the state would be very significant and the public safety risks would be alarming.

We urge you to please encourage the study committee assignment.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours Truly,

Brian Nairin
Executive Vice President
Allegheny Casualty Company