10/23/2026
Earlier this week, the CO Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases addressing prosecutors’ responsibilities when seeking restitution for crime victims. RMvlc submitted an amicus brief highlighting what is at stake for victims.
Restitution is a critical victims’ right that can help survivors recover financial losses resulting from crime, including medical expenses and other costs associated with their victimization.
RMvlc’s Legal Director, Kazi Houston, emphasized a vital concern in the court’s consideration of these cases: when restitution becomes a battle over procedural technicalities, only the victims bear the consequences. At the same time, overly burdensome or persistent requests for documentation can retraumatize survivors. The process must protect victims’ rights without creating additional harm.
As Colorado’s highest court considers how the law should be applied, RMvlc believes one principle must remain central: victims should not lose their right to restitution because of procedural failures in the criminal legal system.
We are grateful for the opportunity to elevate victims’ experiences and rights into this important conversation.
Read more about the oral arguments: https://buff.ly/RE6F2w6
After five years and a half-dozen decisions recalibrating expectations for how trial judges should comply with the state's crime victim restitution law, the Colorado Supreme Court turned its attention on Tuesday to the other people with restitution obligations: prosecutors.
