Michael Merrifield for House - CO

Colorado School of the Deaf and Blind Rocks the House

The band from the Colorado School of the Deaf and Blind rocked the House of Represenatives Wednesday.

After having the rare honor of playing on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives at the beginning of the House's daily floor session, the students met with Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter in his office.

Later in the day, the students discussed the impotance of preserving arts and music in schools with their representative, Rep. Michael Merrifield.

Rep. Merrifield is a leading advocate of ensuring that students in Colorado schools get well-rounded educations that include exposure to music and arts programs.

House Allows Sentencing Offenders to “Restore Justice”

Feb. 18, 2008

House Allows Sentencing Offenders to “Restore Justice”

Measure forces teens to repay, repair, restore

(DENVER) A bipartisan pair of Colorado Springs legislators won support from the Colorado House of Representatives today for a measure that would dramatically reform the way that courts deal with troubled teens.

The House voted 63-1 in favor of House Bill 1117 that would introduce restorative justice practices to juvenile courts. The bill is co-sponsored by State Representatives Michael Merrifield (D-Colorado Springs) and Bob Gardner (R-Colorado Springs).

“This is the most significant reform to Colorado’s juvenile justice laws this year,” Rep. Merrifield said. “This will reduce the rate at which youths from recommitting crimes.”

Rep. Gardner said, “It’s an important tool for juveniles to get back on the track when victims are willing to come face to face with the juvenile offender.”

Restorative justice empowers the victim to help define the sentence of youth offenders. When victims are willing, they meet with the teen offender and a community representative to establish what the teen offender needs to do repair the harm they have caused.

“So many first-time juvenile offenders can be reformed with these types of practices that will help them recognize the consequences of their actions.”

Merrifield said that not only would the bill help juvenile offenders understand the full consequences of their crimes, but it would also help the victims and community heal.

“Restorative justice programs elsewhere have proven to not only reduce the recidivism rate, but they have also proven to accelerate healing and forgiveness among victims by empowering them to help determine the punishment.”

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Merrifield’s Education Bill Gets Passing Grade

Feb. 21, 2008

(DENVER) The House Education Committee passed a measure that for the first time will help students with dyslexia.

The committee voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 1223, which will provide teachers the resources they need to better identify dyslexic students and will train teachers with alternative methods for teaching dyslexic students to read.

The measure is a key component of the legislature’s effort this year to provide Colorado’s young children with a Smart Start.

House Education Committee Chairman Michael Merrifield (D-Colorado Springs) authored the bill in response to parents who said the state’s public schools weren’t helping dyslexic children learn to read.

“Effectively addressing dyslexia is one of the keys to reaching Governor Ritter’s goals of increasing the literacy rate and cutting our drop-out rate in half in the next 10 years,” Rep. Merrifield said. “If we are serious about developing a well-educated workforce in Colorado for strong economic development in the 21st century, we must attend to the needs of our many dyslexic students.”

Although studies have not been conclusive, Merrifield estimated that more 100,000 students in Colorado are dyslexic – as many as one out of every five children in each classroom.

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