Penalties for Violent Crimes in Colorado can be extremely harsh. It is important to know your rights.
Misdemeanors
- Assault in the Third Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-204: generally requires simple bodily injury. M1 punishable by up to two years in the county jail.
- Menacing, C.R.S. 18-3-206: places someone in fear of imminent serious bodily injury without using a weapon. M3 punishable by up to six months in the county jail.
- Physical Harassment, C.R.S.
- Reckless Endangerment, C.R.S. 18-3-208: recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury. M3 punishable by up to six months in the county jail.
- False Imprisonment, C.R.S. 18-3-303: knowingly confining or detaining another person without their consent (longer than 12 hours is a felony). M2 punishable by up to a year in the county jail.
Felonies
Sentencing on felonies in Colorado is very complex and there are many factors that could be consequential to the maximum or minimum available sentence.
- Murder in the First Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-102: most commonly when after deliberation and intent a person causes the death of another.
- Murder in the Second Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-103: most commonly when a person knowingly causes the death of another.
- Manslaughter, C.R.S. 18-3-104: most commonly a person recklessly causes the death of another person.
- Criminally Negligent Homicide, C.R.S. 18-3-105: causing the death of another by conduct amounting to criminal negligence.
- Vehicular Homicide, C.R.S. 18-3-106: most commonly when you kill another through reckless and/or intoxicated driving.
- Assault in the First Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-202 most commonly when someone intends to and does cause seriously bodily injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon. Also applies to the intentional disfigurement of another person.
- Assault in the Second Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-203 most commonly when a person causes bodily injury to another by means or a deadly weapon or recklessly causes serious bodily injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon. Also applies to intentionally causing bodily injury to a first responder while they are performing their lawful duty.
- Vehicular Assault, C.R.S. 18-3-205: most commonly occurs when someone is driving recklessly and/or intoxicated and their conduct results in serious bodily injury to another person.
- Felony Menacing, C.R.S. 18-3-206: knowingly placing another person in fear of imminent bodily injury through the use of a deadly or imitation of a deadly weapon.
- Kidnapping in the First Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-301: most commonly demanding a ransom or concession through the knowing seizure or imprisonment of another person.
- Kidnapping in the Second Degree, C.R.S. 18-3-302: most commonly carrying away another person without their consent or enticing a child away from their lawful guardian with the intent to keep or conceal the child.
- Stalking, C.R.S. 18-3-602: can occur if a person threatens another and then repeatedly follows them or places under surveillance, can also occur if a credible threat is made and repeatedly makes communications based on that threat, can also occur if someone repeatedly follows or surveilles a victim in a way that causes serious emotional distress.