1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

I am writing with deep concern regarding the recent incident in which an allegedly violent individual was released from custody due to competency laws. This case has rightly alarmed many Coloradans, but I believe it is important to recognize that the real issue lies not in the intent of the law itself, but in the persistent underfunding of our state’s psychiatric system. Competency laws exist to ensure that individuals facing trial have the capacity to understand proceedings and meaningfully participate in their defense. This is both a constitutional requirement and a humane standard. However, when our state lacks the psychiatric resources to evaluate, restore, and treat these individuals in a timely manner, courts are forced to make untenable decisions that can lead to dangerous outcomes. The fact that an individual with a history of violent behavior was released back into the community is not a failure of the law’s intent—it is a failure of our system’s capacity. Without sufficient bed space, appropriately staffed psychiatric facilities, and adequate funding for treatment programs, the law becomes impossible to uphold as designed. The tragedy here is not just the release of one person, but the ongoing risk posed to public safety and to the individuals who cycle through our justice system without receiving desperately needed care. I urge you and your colleagues to prioritize funding for Colorado’s state psychiatric hospitals and community mental health programs. Specifically, we need: - Expanded inpatient capacity for competency restoration. - Increased staffing levels to reduce evaluation and treatment delays. - Investment in community-based mental health services to reduce the number of competency cases entering the criminal justice system in the first place. Public safety and compassion must go hand-in-hand. Colorado can and should lead in building a system where competency laws function as intended—not as bottlenecks caused by budget shortages, but as safeguards that respect both justice and human dignity. Thank you for your service to our state and for considering these urgent concerns. I ask that you stand with the many Coloradans who believe in protecting our communities through effective, well-funded mental health care.