Incarceration Time for DUI Convictions
Colorado has a greatly varied sentencing structure for driving under the influence (DUI) convictions. Obviously, one of the biggest factors affecting a drunk driving sentence is the number of times someone has been previously convicted of a DUI crime. If an individual is convicted for the first time of DUI, the sentence is at least […]
Second DUI Conviction in Colorado
In Colorado, the penalties for a second driving under the influence (DUI) conviction are significant. It should come as no surprise that the ramifications are far greater than after a person’s first conviction. The law views offenders who incur a second drunk driving conviction as obviously not learning from the first experience and earning far […]
The Ramifications Beyond a Domestic Violence Conviction
A person perusing this blog can read about the legal consequences that a domestic violence related conviction holds in Colorado. These are many and varied. Restrictions from entering a shared home, surrender of personal firearms, and prohibitions from contact with a significant other are just some of these. However, a person accused of a crime […]
Understanding POWPO – Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender
It is against the law in Colorado for a previous offender to possess a firearm.[i] The law is commonly known by the acronym POWPO – possession of a weapon by a previous offender. Public policy dictates why the law prohibits this: individuals whose past conduct demonstrates an unfitness to be entrusted with such dangerous instrumentalities […]
Domestic Violence and Personal Firearms
As already mentioned in previous blog posts, being charged with an offense related to domestic violence carries life-altering consequences from the point of arrest. One of those areas is the accused person’s ability to possess firearms. There are about 7.7 million firearms in the State of Colorado, which translates into 1.2 guns per resident.[i] About […]
How to Access a Shared Home After a Domestic Violence Arrest
Getting arrested for a domestic violence related crime in Colorado creates great interruptions in a person’s life. Very suddenly, access to the items needed to carry on life’s essential functions – clothing, a cell phone, a computer, even a toothbrush – quickly become unavailable. After an arrest for a domestic violence related crime, the accused […]
Child Custody and Best Interests of the Child
One of the most contentious issues in Colorado family and divorce law is child custody. How will a court decide where the children will reside after a marriage ends? This issue has one major guiding principle which courts must use to decide the topic: the best interests of the child. This is so ingrained in […]
How Much Does a Domestic Violence Lawyer Cost in Colorado?
What is the cost for a person to retain an attorney to defend him- or herself against domestic violence charges in Colorado? To greatly summarize the answer to this question: “It depends.” Why is the answer so vague? A major complicating factor is that, in Colorado, there is no criminal charge called “domestic violence.” Instead, domestic violence […]
Can Domestic Violence Charges Be Dropped?
Can domestic violence related criminal charges in Colorado be dismissed? The short answer is possibly – any criminal charges can be dismissed. However, the decision to dismiss a criminal case rests exclusively with the prosecutor. In Colorado, “domestic violence” is not a standalone crime. In other words, there is no criminal charge under Title 18 […]
Immigration and Domestic Violence in Colorado
A conviction in Colorado for any crime related to domestic violence can have severe immigration implications for a person. Once a person has been convicted of a domestic violence related offense, even if the crime is a misdemeanor, that individual is subject to deportation, ineligibility for a green card, denial of a visa and/or denial […]