Colorado Court Rules Good Samaritan Law Protects Anonymity
The appellate court ruled that callers reporting drug overdoses are not legally required to provide their names to police.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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The Colorado Court of Appeals has ruled that the state's Good Samaritan law does not mandate that individuals disclose their names when reporting drug overdoses. This decision overturned the drug convictions of Jordyn M. Williams, who had been arrested after refusing to identify herself to first responders.
Why it matters
The ruling ensures that fear of arrest for unrelated warrants does not deter individuals from reporting life-threatening overdoses. The court reasoned that requiring name disclosure would undermine the legislative intent to encourage people to seek emergency aid.
Jordyn M. Williams was initially sentenced to 180 days in jail following her drug conviction in Denver. The appellate panel has now ordered the dismissal of those charges.
The players
Jordyn M. Williams
She is the individual whose drug convictions were overturned by the Colorado Court of Appeals after she reported an overdose.
Colorado Court of Appeals
This is the intermediate appellate court in the state judicial system that issued the ruling regarding the interpretation of the Good Samaritan law.
The details
Jordyn M. Williams called 911 to report an overdose and attempted suicide, cooperating with responders while withholding her name. Police later identified her through the overdose victim, discovered active warrants, and charged her with drug offenses, leading to her original conviction.
Timeline
2012: Colorado legislature passed the original Good Samaritan law.
October 29, 2026: Court of Appeals issued the opinion in People v. Williams.
Health Landscape
The court's interpretation clarifies the protections offered by the Colorado Good Samaritan law for citizens reporting medical emergencies. The ruling updates the interpretation of the law by explicitly stating that name disclosure is not a statutory requirement for immunity.
This ruling impacts residents by confirming they can seek life-saving emergency assistance for overdoses without the immediate fear of being identified by police. It encourages public participation in emergency reporting by prioritizing medical aid over the collection of personal data.
The takeaway
This decision reinforces the primary purpose of Good Samaritan protections by removing barriers that prevent people from calling 911. Residents should feel empowered to report overdoses in their communities knowing that staying at the scene and cooperating is sufficient for legal protection.
Further reading
Learn more about local policies regarding the Substance Abuse section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Colorado Springs Gazette.
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Should people be required to disclose their names to receive legal immunity for reporting drug overdoses?
