DOJ opens investigation into conditions at Colorado prisons, youth facilities

The Justice Department announced that it has opened an investigation into the conditions at facilities operated by the Colorado Department of Corrections and Colorado Department of Youth Services.

The DOJ announced on Monday that it will investigate "DOC and DYS policies and practices to ensure that DOC inmates and youths in the custody of DYS are being afforded their rights under the U.S. Constitution and federal law."

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division said in a statement, “The Constitution protects every American, whether they are a young person confined in a juvenile facility or an elderly person confined to a prison. We are committed to upholding our federal civil rights laws so that no one is subject to unconstitutional mistreatment when held in state custody.”

The DOJ sent a letter to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) and other state leaders regarding the investigation, explaining that the department is examining broad allegations of mistreatment of inmates, KUSA reported.

The letter notes that the DOJ will investigate whether Colorado fails to provide adequate medical care in its prisons. Former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters is serving a nine-year prison sentence after being convicted of several felonies in connection with an election security breach in the 2020 election, and has frequently claimed that the Colorado prison she is in provides inadequate medical care.

President Trump on Wednesday criticized Polis for refusing to release Peters from jail, saying she was convicted for preserving election records.

"The SLEAZEBAG Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, refuses to allow an elderly woman, Tina Peters, who was unfairly convicted of what the Democrats do, cheating on Elections, out of jail!" Trump posted on Truth Social. "She was convicted for trying to stop Democrats from stealing Colorado Votes in the Election."

On Monday, a federal appeals court denied Peters' request for release from prison. Her lawyer has submitted a pardon request to Trump. However, presidential pardons do not apply to state convictions.

The DOJ will also investigate whether staff at youth detention facilities are failing to provide enough food or using excessive force, and examine how transgender inmates are housed.

According to the letter, the investigation will examine the 21 Colorado DOC facilities —19 state-run and two private — and the 12 residential youth centers operated by DYS.

The DOJ said it is prepared to work with Colorado to fix any violations found, rather than go to court.

The DOC said that it has been notified about the DOJ investigation and is "currently reviewing the details."