In the News
In 2002 Blake Harrison spearheaded an effort to allow liquor stores to be open on Sundays. The ballot initiative was not successful, but he was able to keep the issues alive. Thankfully, Governor Ritter signed the bill into law in 2008. Blake has committed himself to continue his fight for consumers and will be on the forefront advocating for individual and consumer rights. This year he is heading an effort to allow consumers to purchase beer and wine in grocery stores.
Beer in Wine on Grocery Stores
Grocery Sales of Most Wine, Beer Are Inevitable
Colorado should jump on that bandwagon sooner than later, and figure out a way to address liquor store owners’ concerns.
Denver Post editorial, December 3, 2009
Last Call
Just before Prohibition, the Colorado Legislature gave us 3.2 beer. Now Blake Harrison wants to repeal the scourge.
By Jessica Centers, Westword, March 30, 2006
Liquor Sales on Sunday Initiative
Colorado Public Radio, Morning Edition May 5, 2002
Grassroots effort targets liquor-store `blue laws’
By Patrick Sweeney, Denver Business Journal, January 11, 2002
Blue-law blues
State has no business decreeing a day off for liquor.
The Gazette, November 21, 2001
Publications
From 2000 – 2007 Blake was a criminal justice expert for the National Conference of State Legislatures. During his tenure he authored numerous magazine articles and legislative reports, ranging from drug and prison reform to privacy issues and improved criminal justice through technology.
Matrix Revolution
Sophisticated Technology Allows Law Enforcement Across the Nation to Communicate Quickly and Solves Crimes.
Cover story for State Legislature Magazine, May 2004
Identifying the Missing and the Dead
As forensic DNA technology improves, new opportunities emerge to solve cases of missing person.
State Legislatures Magazine, March 2006
Funding Justice Information Sharing
NCSL Report, May 2005
State Criminal Records
State Legislative Report, September 2002, volume 27, number 16
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
NCSL Legisbrief, January 2006, volume 14, number 4
Rethinking Drug Policy
State Legislatures Magazine, July 2001
Fighting Crime with Information
Improved safety comes with integrating criminal information systems.
State Legislatures Magazine, January 2002
The Methamphetamine Menace
Legisbrief, January 2004, volume 12, number 1
Terrorism in State Criminal Codes
Protecting Democracy: States Respond to Terrorism.
NCSL, 2002
Funding Crime Information Improvements
June/July 2003, volume 11, number 27
Saving Lives
By Blake Harrison, State Legislatures Magazine, October / November 2006
Notifying victims of their assailants’ wherabouts can help prevent another crim. (Statewide Automatic Victim Information Notification)
Identity Security
One in four U.S. households has been a victim of identity theft, costing individuals $5 billion… Financial institutions lost nearly $48 billion last year, which pushes credit card interest rates higher for all customers…. Secure, reliable identification systems require a strong technology and legal infrastructure to ensure collection, authentication, verification and appropriate use of data.
By Blake Harrison and Pam Greenberg, National Conference of State Legislatures Legisbrief, November / December 2003, volume 11, number 43, (NCSL, Denver, Colorado), 2 pages
Get Out and Stay Out — Aiding Offender Re-entry
More than 1.2 million people were incarcerated in state prisons at the end of 2002. It is estimated that 595,000 offenders were released that year, a 46 percent increase since 1990. These numbers raise concern that many will commit new crimes and return to prison…. Correctional industry programs provide offenders with job training and help offenders successfully re-enter the community.
By Blake Harrison, National Conference of State Legislatures Legisbrief, March 2004, volume 12, number 15, (NCSL, Denver, Colorado), 2 pages
Communities Struggle with the Fallout from Meth
National Public Radio: All Things Considered interview iwth Blake Harrison, a senior policy Specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures, May 04, 2005
California Follows Trend with Sex-Offender Crackdown
Laws like these have been passed in states all over the country in the past three years, according to Blake Harrison, criminal law specialist at the National …
National Public Radio: Morning Edition, November 02, 2006
