UpDoNA Is Working with the District Attorney for Increased Safety
A contingent of folks from UpDoNA and LoDoNA met with our District Attorney John Walsh and four of his attorneys. The meeting centered on Denver’s downtown safety plan and the district attorney’s role in its implementation.
Key Improvements in Downtown Safety
One of the most significant advancements has been the daily coordination among various departments, such as law enforcement, to enhance outreach efforts for individuals experiencing homelessness—particularly those with severe health conditions but no criminal record. A critical element of this strategy is gathering data to build a strong case for enforcement measures.
Courtroom arguments often focus on the impact of crime on the community. A notable change spearheaded by Walsh and his team is the requirement that individuals arrested must see a judge before being issued a personal recognizance bond. This process keeps offenders off the streets for a day or two, disrupting their routines and discouraging public misdemeanors. Walsh’s office is actively using an area restrictions ordinance where offenders can be restricted from certain areas while on a bond, a strategy used in three recent cases. The District Attorney’s office is optimistic that this will reduce public offenses. Enforcement tools such as GPS ankle monitors aid in tracking offenders, and police officers—who often have prior interactions with them—play a vital role in monitoring compliance.
Collaboration with RTD
Another major development is the strengthened partnership between the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and the District Attorney’s office. This coordination allows RTD to leverage legal support in prosecuting criminals, particularly with the aid of high-quality surveillance footage from buses, trains, and newly installed cameras at transit stops.
Addressing Misdemeanor Arrest Policies
Historically, the District Attorney’s office has faced criticism for the lack of misdemeanor arrests. Law enforcement often determines whether minor offenses such as trespassing or petty theft are worth pursuing in court. More serious misdemeanors are handled by the City Attorney, while felony cases are prosecuted at the state level by DA Walsh’s office
Intervention strategies depend on the nature of the offense and the individual’s prior history. Available options include:
- WellPower (formerly Mental Health of Denver) – A primary resource for individuals exhibiting abnormal behavior.
- Assignment to a behavioral health unit for additional support.
- Efforts to connect individuals with housing solutions.
- Treatment Court – An alternative judicial approach offering treatment for lower-level offenses instead of incarceration.
- An escalation process that may lead to stricter penalties.
- Limitations on intervention time – The maximum duration of treatment or incarceration is one year.
Insights on Crime Trends
Juvenile Crime: Increased firearm-related offenses among juveniles have prompted legislative changes. Previously, prosecution depended on the firearm’s value exceeding $2,000—an outdated policy now replaced with stricter regulations. Bed shortages for juvenile offenders have also been a concern, but recent adjustments have improved availability. Alarmingly, reports indicate that one-third of juveniles arrested were carrying firearms. Drive-by shootings remain a serious issue. A new requirement mandates that first time offenders caught with guns must attend a six-week course while on probation.
Late-Night Crime: Shootings associated with intoxicated individuals leaving bars at 2:00 AM continue to pose challenges. Police refer to these incidents as “bumping into crimes,” where minor altercations escalate due to impaired judgment. Strategies to mitigate such occurrences include street closures, relocating food trucks, and deploying additional officers. However, the combination of alcohol and firearms remains problematic.
Retail Theft & Organized Crime: Shoplifting is a significant concern, particularly in retail districts. Police can now aggregate thefts within a year allowing multiple petty thefts to be combined into felony charges. Investigations suggest that much of this theft is orchestrated by organized groups, known as “frequent flyers.” Those involved may face felony racketeering charges. Interestingly, many retailers hesitate to report crimes, fearing the time commitment of court proceedings. However, they are generally willing to share surveillance footage with law enforcement, provided officers retrieve the footage before routine deletion. Despite commendable efforts by the District Attorney’s office and law enforcement to locate stolen goods, resource constraints remain a challenge.
What Can We Do As Citizens?
As Rob Squire says at the end of each of his emails, “Don’t forget to report every illegal incident you witness. Denver uses that data to make staffing and DPD deployment decisions. If you reported something and it didn’t get fixed, report it again. If you see something, say something. If you don’t know how to report something, go to” – https://updona.org/report-an-issue/
Logo attribution: Rob Squire
