About the Task Force & Final Report
The Victims of a Violent Crime Brain Injury Task Force (Task Force) is a 17-member board appointed by the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety. The Task Force acts in an advisory capacity to the Department and the Division of Criminal Justice Office for Victim Programs.
The purpose of the task force is to develop a plan for the creation and implementation of a pilot program that would identify and screen for the identification, screening, support, and services of victims of violent crimes for symptoms of possible brain injury and provide those who screen positive with the appropriate support and services. The Task Force was created under Senate Bill 21-138 Improve Brain Injury Support In Criminal Justice System and SB22-057 Violent Crime Victim Brain Injury Screening Program.
The Task Force prepared a final report that was delivered to the Colorado legislature in January 2023.
Based on the work of the Brain Injury Task Force, the following is the report that was submitted to the legislature with the Task Force's recommendations.
Task Force Members
Rep from Office For Victims Programs
Kelly Kissell
Division of Criminal Justice - OVP
Rep from Entity interested in a pilot program
Candace Coolidge
Porchlight Family Justice Center
Rep from Colorado District Attorney's Council
Toni Wehman
17th DA's Office
Rep from a Legal Advocacy Group
Emily Tofte Nestaval
Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center
Rep from Advocacy Group for victims of violent crime
Leanna Stoufer
Lived experience/survivor - Victims for Justice
Rep from a victim advocate in law enforcement
Kim Messina
Brighton PD
Rep from community based victim advocates
Monica Rivera
Violence Free CO
Rep from Brain Injury Trauma Unit of a medical facility
Lenny Hawley
Craig Hospital
Registered Forensic Nurse Examiner
Erin Ropelewski
UC Health-Memorial
Victim who experienced brain injury
Jenn Beach
Lived experience/survivor
Victim who experienced brain injury
Melissa Bickford
Lived experience/survivor
Research professional in the area of brain injury
Kim Gorgens
DU - School of Professional Psychology
Research professional in the area of brain injury
Anne DePrince
DU - School of Professional Psychology
Rep from the Chiefs of Police
Chief Chris Heberer
Fountain Police Department
Rep from the County Sheriffs of Colorado
Jaime Fitzsimons
Summit County Sheriff's Office
Rep from the Dept of Human Services
Liz Gerdeman
CDHS - Mindsource
Rep from an organization specializing in brain injury services
Jaime Horsfall
Brain Injury Alliance of CO
Survivor and community advocate
Victoria Benjamin
Colorado State University