“Sex offenders are some of the most dangerous criminals on the streets because they are some of the most likely to re-offend. One in four rapists will commit another violent crime within three years. These realities require that we maintain a vigorous and vigilant tracking and accountability program. We need to ensure that once we know who these people are, we lock them up and then track them after they are out.”

- Governor Bill Owens

Governor Bill Owens has always been tough on crime.  Even as a legislator, Gov. Owens was already strengthening Colorado's child abuse laws and watching out for the victims of crime.  

Today, he continues to protect innocent Coloradans from harm.  Crime has gone down, law enforcement officers have more tools at their disposal, and children are safer due to tight registration and tracking systems to keep tabs on sex offenders.

And long before Sept. 11, 2001, Gov. Owens signed into law legislation to prepare Colorado for the potential of biological attacks or epidemics. Colorado's Office of Preparedness, Security and Fire Safety is directed by Sue Mencer, a respected former FBI agent, and maintains communication between all agencies at all levels of government that may have a role to play in keeping Colorado safe from threats.

To improve Coloradans' security & safety from crime Gov. Owens has: 

·        Signed legislation to waive the statute of limitations on sexual assault cases when the crime has been reported and DNA evidence has been taken.

·        Signed legislation that posts photographs of two-time sexual offenders, and those who fail to register as sex offenders, on the Internet.

·        Issued an Executive Order creating the Governor’s Task Force on Sex Offender Registration to strengthen existing registration and develop a statewide uniform sex offender database.

·        Signed legislation to take DNA samples of all convicted felons in Colorado.

·        Issued an Executive Order creating the Office of Preparedness, Security and Fire Safety to plan for and prevent terrorist attacks in Colorado.

To improve the way Colorado's courts dispense justice, Gov. Owens has:

·        Appointed 84 judges throughout Colorado.

·        Passed legislation that created 24 additional District Court Judges in 10 fast-growing judicial districts.

·        Fulfilled his promise to appoint tough prosecutors to the bench with the expectation that victims of a crime, when before the court, will receive consideration on par to that of the offenders.

·        Appointed a high number of reputable Hispanic judges for which Governor Owens received recognition by the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and both The Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post.

·        Required the Executive branch administrative law judges to follow the judicial code of ethics and provided additional judicial training for all judges.

·        Required Executive agencies to adopt measures to increase the coordination and professionalism of the administrative law judges.

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