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OVP: Victims of a Violent Crime Brain Injury Task Force

About the Task Force & Final Report

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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

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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