Amy L. Padden

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

As District Attorney, Amy will make sure her office is a responsible servant to the community across all ages. When children or young adults commit crimes, society needs to step up and help them get their lives on track. Juvenile diversion can alter the trajectory of a young person’s life in a positive direction. Amy is also opposed to the pervasive practice of charging children as adults in the 18th JD. Amy believes that practice is needed, and should only be used, in the most extreme cases, not as a default. Learn more

Juvenile diversion can alter the trajectory of a young person’s life in a positive direction. Amy is also opposed to the pervasive practice of charging children as adults in the 18th JD. Amy believes that practice is needed, and should only be used, in the most extreme cases, not as a default. Learn more

Amy will ensure that those who commit violent crimes receive full and proper consequences for their actions. Learn more

Amy supports the use of an outside prosecutor, such as the creation of a specialized unit within the Attorney General’s office, in cases of serious police misconduct to avoid conflicts, ensure uniform standards across the state, and deliver justice to victims and their families. Learn more

Amy will ensure that people can exercise those rights in our Arapahoe County by taking threats, intimidation, and hate crimes cases very seriously, prosecuting them to the fullest extent. Learn more

By making sure that ICE’s actions are separate from the District Attorney’s office, we can make sure that all people, regardless of where they were born, feel safe calling the police and in our courthouses. Being a victim of a crime or a testifying witness should not make anyone fear deportation, and Amy will make sure that everyone is safe to come forward about crimes they have experienced or witnessed. Learn more

As District Attorney, Amy will ensure that all offenders, regardless of immigration status, are treated fairly in the judicial system. By making sure that ICE’s actions are separate from the District Attorney’s office, we can make sure that all people, regardless of where they were born, feel safe calling the police and in our courthouses. Being a victim of a crime or a testifying witness should not make anyone fear deportation, and Amy will make sure that everyone is safe to come forward about crimes they have experienced or witnessed. Learn more

Amy supports responsible firearm ownership and will ensure that anyone who breaks our laws regarding gun ownership will face harsh penalties. Making sure that violent felons and domestic abusers do not have access to guns will make our streets safer, protect victims, and reduce violent crime. Learn more

No matter what happens in Washington D.C., Colorado law protects a women’s right to choose and ensures LGBTQ rights and other fundamental liberties, regardless of where people are from, what they look like, or who they love. Amy will ensure that people can exercise those rights in our Arapahoe County by taking threats, intimidation, and hate crimes cases very seriously, prosecuting them to the fullest extent. Learn more

We must address the biases in our justice system. Amy will make sure that all offenders, victims, and witnesses are treated fairly regardless of their race, national origin, religion, income, and gender. Learn more

We need a District Attorney who understands that our priorities must be to target these offenders and ensure they will not harm our community again. By shifting the office’s resources to focus on violent crime, Amy will ensure that those who commit violent crimes receive full and proper consequences for their actions. Learn more

Amy is committed to welcoming new community members and ensuring they receive equal protection under the law. By making sure immigrants feel safe in the courts, are provided with interpreter services, and are kept fully aware of judicial processes, Judicial District 18 can remain the vibrant, diverse community we all know and love. Learn more

The District Attorney works to fairly enforce the laws, get justice for victims, and rehabilitate offenders. When incarceration becomes a for-profit industry, these goals are not accomplished by our criminal justice system. Amy knows that for-profit incarceration has no place in our judicial system and will fight to end the use of private prisons in Colorado. Learn more

By expanding diversion programs for first-time offenders, offenders who need mental health or drug and alcohol treatment, veterans, and juveniles, Amy will ensure that our streets are safer and that offenders will have the opportunity to receive the help they need to rehabilitate and become contributing members of our community. Learn more

As District Attorney, Amy will make sure that victims are at the core of decisions about sentencing, that they have access to crucial resources to recover from the harm inflicted, and that their safety and security is a priority for the office. Having been the victim of a crime herself (when a maximum security inmate threatened to assault and murder her), Amy knows that expanding victim and witness protection services and prioritizing resources for those recovering from the impacts of violent crimes, are critical to ensuring justice is truly done in each case. Learn more

We need a DA who will end these practices, work to address implicit bias, hold police accountable, and fight antiquated laws and policies (like citizens arrest statutes). Amy supports the use of an outside prosecutor, such as the creation of a specialized unit within the Attorney General’s office, in cases of serious police misconduct to avoid conflicts, ensure uniform standards across the state, and deliver justice to victims and their families. Learn more