What is the punishment for domestic violence in Colorado?

There’s no single punishment because domestic violence isn’t its own charge, the punishment follows whatever underlying offense is charged, harassment, assault, criminal mischief, and so on. What’s constant across every DV case is a set of add-on consequences: a mandatory protection order, a required domestic violence evaluation, and mandatory treatment classes if the case ends in conviction.

Why two DV cases can look completely different

A DV harassment case and a DV first-degree assault case share the same label but sit at opposite ends of Colorado’s sentencing range, one a misdemeanor with probation likely, the other a felony with mandatory prison time. The underlying charge is what actually determines the exposure.

The consequences that apply no matter what

Beyond whatever sentence the underlying charge carries, a DV conviction typically triggers a court-ordered treatment program that can run a year or more, and it can trigger a federal firearms ban if the underlying offense qualifies as a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.