TLDR: I am proposing a bill to expand the rights of loved ones of victims of unsolved homicides in Denver, Colorado. 

My Story:

Hey everyone, I’m Sean, and I am a loved one of Joshua Bersuch, who was brutally murdered in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood on April 24, 2004. It’s now 2024, and despite two decades passing, his case remains unsolved.

Joshua had a troubled upbringing, abandoned by his father and dealing with a difficult relationship with his mother. He came to live with my family in Littleton, Colorado, in 1999, where he became a role model to me despite his own challenges. We bonded over our shared love of hip-hop and graffiti. Tragically, Joshua was found murdered—beaten, stabbed, stripped of his clothes, and set on fire—when he was just 19 years old.

I was only 10 at the time of his death, and the impact has been devastating for me ever since. My and my family dealt with extreme grief, isolation, and lack of support from both our community and authorities. The police barely spoke to me, and I was left to process Joshua’s murder alone. The grief took a toll on me academically, leading to truancy charges, and I was even punished for trying to channel my pain into art. Over the years, I struggled with anger, depression, and loss of faith in the police system.

In 2012, I began investigating Joshua's homicide myself. I’ve faced roadblocks from the Denver Police Department and a lack of effort to truly investigate the key suspect, who refuses to cooperate. The police seem to be waiting for him to confess, rather than pursuing other leads. I’ve uncovered much circumstantial evidence, but most of my findings have been dismissed.

Joshua deserves justice, and so do all the other loved ones of cold case victims who continue to be ignored. It’s this frustration and grief that inspired me to propose a new law expanding the rights of the loved ones of Cold Case victims.

This was written for Denver, but if you suffer under similar circumstances, please copy it and edit it to be relevant to your city and state. I would love to see this on a National scale, too, but I'll start locally.

After receiving support here, I will use the signatures on this petition to bolster my proposal when I send to my local representatives. 

Proposed Law Bill: Expanded Rights for Qualified Loved Ones of All Cold Cases with Living Loved Ones in Denver, Colorado

Title: The Denver Victim's Rights and Cold Case Justice Reform Act of 2024.

Preamble:
As of recent national statistics, the homicide clearance rate in the United States is at a troubling 50%. (meaning 50% of homicides go unsolved). Denver’s rate, while slightly better, still leaves 31% of murders unsolved. 773 cold cases remain open, some dating back decades. Every unsolved murder represents not only a failure of justice but also deep and lasting harm to the qualified loved ones of the victims—people who experience immense grief, emotional distress, and financial hardship as they wait for answers. It is unacceptable for any homicide to go unsolved. This bill expands the rights of all qualified loved ones of cold case victims, offering support and oversight to ensure that justice is actively pursued.

This legislation ensures that benefits are extended individually to all qualified loved ones, preventing a situation where only a few members of a victim's circle monopolize the benefits or speak on behalf of others who are equally deserving. Each qualified loved one will have the right to access compensation, counseling, and legal support on an individual basis.

Section 1: Expanded Rights for Qualified Loved Ones

1.1. Eligibility for Expanded Rights
Under the current system, only immediate family members may claim benefits, often neglecting close friends, distant family, or romantic partners who played significant roles in the victim’s life. This bill extends these rights to qualified loved ones who can demonstrate a substantial emotional or supportive relationship with the victim. Eligible individuals include:

- Close friends with provable emotional bonds.
- Distant family members (cousins, aunts, uncles) who had significant relationships with the victim.
- Romantic partners at the time of the murder, regardless of legal recognition.

Exclusion Criteria:
- Individuals with documented histories of excessive conflict, such as criminal charges, with the victim or clear neglectful parenting are excluded.

Justification:
Expanding rights to all qualified loved ones recognizes the full circle of people impacted by the murder. Many individuals beyond immediate family experience the same level of grief and deserve equal access to compensation and support. Exclusion of conflicting individuals ensures the benefits do not go to those who had harmful relationships with the victim.

Section 2: Financial Compensation for Qualified Loved Ones.

2.1. Denver Cold Case Victim Compensation Fund

Funding Sources:
   - 1% reallocation of cannabis tax revenue: Projected to generate $710,000 annually.
   - Traffic fines reallocation (0.5%): Expected to contribute $2 - $3 million annually**.
   - 1% lodging taxes: Estimated at $500,000 annually.
   - Public donations: The fund will accept community contributions to support qualified loved ones.

Compensation Structure:
- Exhausted Investigations: In cases where detectives have exhausted all leads, each qualified loved one, on request, will receive $1,000 annually for each year the case remains unsolved. This amount will be provided individually, ensuring that no single family member can claim it on behalf of others.
- Neglected Investigations: Where law enforcement has failed to exercise due diligence, each qualified loved one will receive $5,000 annually per year the case remains unsolved.

Justification:
Many qualified loved ones face emotional and financial hardship due to the unresolved murder of their loved one, including loss of potential earnings of the victim, funeral costs, counseling costs, legal costs, and independent investigation costs, etc. Compensation serves as financial relief, recognizing the ongoing trauma they experience. By distributing compensation on an individual basis, we prevent internal conflicts over who is most deserving and ensure equal access for all.

2.2. One-Time Debt Forgiveness Program
Each qualified loved one is eligible for one-time debt forgiveness of up to $50,000, with no restrictions or conditions applied.

Justification:
The financial fallout of losing a loved one can be devastating. Many individuals face debt from legal fees, mental health costs, and funeral expenses. It's also agony to continue to work while bereaved by grief, yet most have to, in order to survive. Still facing all the normal challenges of life, while under great duress. Offering one-time, no-questions-asked debt forgiveness provides immediate relief and allows them to focus on emotional healing rather than avoiding financial ruin.

Section 3: Mental Health and Education Support for Qualified Loved Ones

3.1. Free Grief Counseling Services
Each qualified loved one will receive a compensation voucher from the State of Colorado allowing them to choose their own licensed grief counselors.

Justification:
The emotional toll of an unsolved murder is long-lasting. Providing a personalized counseling voucher system ensures that each individual can receive mental health care tailored to their needs. This prevents unequal access to services and ensures that no one is left without professional support.

3.2. Exemption from Compulsory Schooling
Bereaved children under the age of 17 who are qualified loved ones of unsolved murder victims will receive a certificate authorized by the City of Denver and the State of Colorado, exempting them from compulsory schooling and allowing them a legal break from school as long as they need to recover. No mental health professional recommendation is required.

No Truancy Penalties:
Children exempted under this program will face no penalties for truancy, including prison time, ensuring they have the time they need to heal.

Justification:
Grieving children should not be forced to attend school if they are under severe emotional duress. They cannot adequately socialize or study academically in that state of mental and emotional turmoil. Their peers are not equipped to relate to such traumatic experiences, and forcing children into that environment is emotionally neglegant, socially irresponsible, and harmful to both the suffering child and their peers. The bill prioritizes their mental and emotional health of children over compulsory education by offering an exemption with no penalties.

Section 4: Law Enforcement Accountability and Oversight

4.1. Establishment of the Civilian Cold Case Oversight Committee

Purpose and Authority:
The Civilian Cold Case Oversight Committee will be a paid committee by the State of Colorado to ensure that law enforcement is properly investigating unsolved cases. The Committee will consist of 11 members: representatives from social justice movements, victim advocacy groups, legal professionals, and retired law enforcement.

Sworn Secrecy:
Committee members will be sworn to secrecy and face severe penalties for divulging any sensitive information that could compromise an ongoing investigation.

No Members Under Investigation:
No Committee member may be a current suspect in a murder investigation, or a convicted felon ensuring impartiality and public trust.

Committee Member Qualification:
No Committee member may be a current employee of the City of Denver, and must not be a current member of Law Enforcement, ensuring impartiality and public trust. Committe members must be adults, trusted current or retired professionals, US Citiziens, and Colorado Residents.

Justification:
Independent oversight is crucial to prevent law enforcement from dismissing or neglecting cold cases. Sworn secrecy protects investigative integrity while ensuring accountability. Barring members under investigation eliminates any potential conflicts of interest.

4.2. Tiered Disclosure System

Preventing Vague Responses:
Law enforcement cannot use generic responses to dismiss the concerns of qualified loved ones. They must provide specific, tiered updates about the investigation, even if sensitive details must be withheld to maintain the integrity of the investigation.

Committee Review:
The Civilian Oversight Committee will review all disclosures to ensure the information provided is meaningful and not dismissive.

Justification:
Loved ones often feel frustrated when law enforcement gives vague, unhelpful updates, if they are ever given an update at all. Many loved ones report being ignored by law enforcement for years and even decades at a time. This system ensures that they receive substantial information while protecting sensitive case details. The Committee acts as a safeguard against dismissive practices and ensures that police are held accoutnable and acutally investigating the homicide like they are supposed to.

Section 5: Public and Community Engagement

5.1. Public Memorial Fund
A public memorial fund will be created to establish memorials at the request of qualified loved ones for cold case victims. This will be funded by 1% of lodging taxes and public donations. Local artists will be reccomended for the creation of these memorials to the specifications and at the request of qualfied loved ones. 

Justification:
Memorials ensure that victims are not forgotten and offer a place for loved ones to grieve. They also serve as a public reminder that justice is still being sought.

Section 6: Detectives and Law Enforcement Resources

6.1. Personnel Increase and Financial Incentives

Increase in Detectives:
Denver will incentivize it's police force to seek out becoming a detective.  The Denver Police Department will increase its Cold Case Cnit from the current 6 detectives to atleast 33, reducing the caseload per detective from over 100 cases to approximately 23 cases, allowing for more thorough investigations.

Funding:
- The personnel increase will require $3.46 million annually, funded through 1% cannabis/hemp tax reallocation and federal DOJ grants.

Incentives:
Detectives will be eligible for $5,000 bonuses for each solved cold case, with additional public recognition for exceptional work.

Justification:
With a caseload of over 100 cases per detective, current investigators cannot give each case the attention it deserves. Increasing personnel ensures that each case receives adequate resources, improving the chances of resolution. Incentives encourage detectives to prioritize cold cases, leading to more successful outcomes.

Conclusion:
The Denver Victim's Rights and Cold Case Justice Reform Act of 2024 offers a comprehensive solution to address cold cases, ensuring that all qualified loved ones of victims receive individual benefits, financial support, and access to justice. By expanding rights, improving law enforcement accountability, and ensuring resources are allocated properly, Denver will set a new standard for how cold cases are handled.

Disclaimer:

This document represents a proposal for the Denver Victim's Rights and Cold Case Justice Reform Act of 2024. While it outlines comprehensive measures aimed at improving the experience of qualified loved ones of cold case homicide victims, it is important to acknowledge that there is no guarantee this proposal will be codified into law in its current form. The legislative process often results in changes, and the final version—should it pass—may differ significantly from what is presented here.

My hope is that through public discourse and legislative review, this proposal will be improved to better serve its intended purpose. However, I fully recognize that there may be aspects I have not considered, and that further development and collaboration with experts and lawmakers could lead to additional enhancements.

Nevertheless, I firmly believe this proposal marks a substantial step forward in addressing the soul-crushing experience faced by the loved ones of unsolved homicide victims, offering them the support, transparency, and justice that has long been denied