Colorado Courts Launch Competency Diversion Program After Bill Passage

Sept. 9, 2025, DENVER – The Colorado Judicial Department is introducing a new structure for how courts respond to individuals found or likely to be found incompetent to stand trial, launching new alternatives aimed at reducing wait times for inpatient competency restoration, supporting recovery, and promoting public safety.

Colorado courts, in partnership with Bridges of Colorado, have begun implementing the new Competency Diversion Program, following the passage of House Bill 24-1355. The Competency Diversion Program is a new statewide program that diverts eligible individuals out of the traditional competency process and into community-based care. 

The program is being implemented in three phases:

• Launched April 1, 2025: 2nd, 17th, 18th, and 20th Judicial Districts

• Launching October 1, 2025: 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 15th, 16th, 21st, and 22nd Judicial Districts

• Final cohort by July 1, 2026: Remaining 10 judicial districts

To support this work, the Colorado Supreme Court established the Judicial Mental Health Advisory Committee (JMHAC) in 2024. JMHAC brings together judicial officers from across the state to strengthen court responses to mental health challenges, improve collaboration, and guide statewide strategy. 

In addition, Colorado secured a federal Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program grant to conduct a statewide evaluation of the Competency Court Dockets and the Competency Diversion Program. 

The evaluation will assess outcomes such as participant engagement, recidivism rates, court efficiency, and access to care to help shape evidence-based practices and inform future expansion. A multidisciplinary subcommittee of the JMHAC is guiding the evaluation and will launch in partnership with selected pilot courts in 2026.

Finally, the State Court Administrator’s Office, through its Criminal Justice Programs Unit, is supporting each district with training, data tools, and policy templates. Competency Analysts support court coordinators and districts with intergovernmental processes, as well as the implementation of steering committees. A new Data Information Management System (DIMS), supported by grant funds, is also helping coordinators track outcomes, including program completion, resource availability, recidivism, and cost savings. 

“This work is the result of years of collaboration, deep listening, and versatility,” said Gene Klivansky, Competency Programs Supervisor. “Colorado is taking bold, creative, and person-centered steps to change how we respond to mental health needs in our courts and communities.”

To learn more about House Bill 24-1355, please visit: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1355.

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