Hundreds of people may have faced criminal convictions in Denver without ever seeing critical evidence in their cases. Between 2022 and 2025, the Denver District Attorney’s Office failed to turn over police files in as many as 756 criminal cases due to what the office describes as a “technical issue.” But these weren’t just files — they were pieces of real people’s lives that could have made all the difference in the outcome of their cases.

Whether this failure was accidental or not, the consequences are potentially devastating. Missing mugshots, arrest records, and even exculpatory evidence may have never reached defense attorneys, raising serious concerns about the fairness of dozens — possibly hundreds — of criminal convictions. These were not just “technical errors.” They were legal violations with human costs.

While the DA’s office claims to have taken “rapid steps” to address the issue once it was discovered, it reportedly went unnoticed for three years, and only came to light amid broader scrutiny of discovery violations in Colorado. That’s not accountability — that’s damage control.

We’re calling on Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and the Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel to immediately launch an independent investigation into the Denver District Attorney’s Office’s handling of these 756 cases. Any affected convictions must be reviewed, and if misconduct or systemic negligence is found, responsible parties must be held accountable.

This isn’t about politics — it’s about trust. Our criminal legal system relies on transparency and fairness. When discovery rules are broken, even unintentionally, real people suffer. We must not minimize this. We must confront it.

Sign this petition to demand accountability, transparency, and justice for every person whose case may have been compromised.

Photo: AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post