Domestic Violence
Domestic violence allegations in Colorado are often more complicated than people expect because “domestic violence” is usually not a separate standalone offense. Instead, it is a sentencing and charging designation that attaches to another alleged crime when the underlying facts involve violence, threatened violence, or another crime against a person or property used as coercion, control, punishment, intimidation, or revenge against someone with whom the accused is or was in an intimate relationship. Under C.R.S. § 18-6-800.3, an intimate relationship includes spouses, former spouses, past or present unmarried couples, and parents of the same child, whether or not they ever lived together.
That means a Colorado domestic violence case may begin with allegations of assault, harassment, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, protection order violations, child abuse, custodial interference, or other crimes, and then become significantly more serious because the prosecution claims the conduct occurred within an intimate relationship. Once the domestic violence designation is attached, the case often triggers a mandatory criminal protection order, domestic violence treatment consequences, firearm relinquishment obligations after conviction, and potentially felony treatment for repeat offenders under the habitual domestic violence offender statute.
Colorado Domestic Violence Defense Attorney
Domestic violence charges are prosecuted aggressively in Colorado because they often combine emotionally charged facts with immediate court restrictions and long-term collateral consequences. Even when the underlying allegation is a misdemeanor, the domestic violence designation can change bond conditions, plea negotiations, firearm rights, treatment obligations, and future charging exposure. In many cases, the most important legal issues involve what actually happened, whether the parties were in a legally recognized intimate relationship, whether the complaining witness’s account is reliable, and whether the prosecution can prove the underlying offense rather than simply relying on the label “domestic violence.”
At the Law Office of Matthew A. Martin, P.C., we understand that domestic violence cases often involve chaotic arguments, inconsistent statements, retaliation, custody disputes, exaggerated police narratives, and assumptions that do not hold up when the evidence is closely examined. Matthew Martin carefully analyzes the underlying charge, the alleged relationship, the protection order issues, and the prosecution’s overall theory of the case. We fight to challenge overcharging, expose weak evidence, and protect our clients from the lasting criminal, family, and professional consequences that a domestic violence conviction can create.
If you or someone you love has been charged with domestic violence in Colorado, call (303) 725-0017 to schedule your free consultation today.
Overview of Domestic Violence Charges in Denver, Colorado
- Definition of Domestic Violence Under Colorado Law
- Common Domestic Violence Charges and Related Offenses in Colorado
- Penalties for Domestic Violence in Colorado
- Defenses to Domestic Violence Charges
- Role of a Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney
- Key Elements the Prosecution Must Prove
- Domestic Violence Protective Orders in Colorado and What They Do
- How to Get a Protection Order Dropped in Colorado
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional Resources
Definition of Domestic Violence Under Colorado Law
Colorado defines domestic violence in C.R.S. § 18-6-800.3. The statute states that domestic violence means an act or threatened act of violence upon a person with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship. It also includes any other crime against a person, or against property, including an animal, or any municipal ordinance violation against a person or property, including an animal, when used as a method of coercion, control, punishment, intimidation, or revenge directed against someone with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship.
That definition matters because the prosecution does not need a charge literally named “domestic violence” in order to pursue a domestic violence case. Instead, it attaches the designation to an underlying criminal offense. The state must therefore prove both the underlying offense and the domestic-violence relationship or coercive-control context required by statute. In many cases, the relationship issue itself becomes a major factual dispute, especially where the parties did not live together, had an intermittent relationship, or strongly disagree about the nature of their connection. Colorado appellate law has recognized that courts may consider the length of the relationship, the nature or type of the relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the parties when determining whether an intimate relationship existed.
Common Domestic Violence Charges and Related Offenses in Colorado
Domestic Assault — One of the most common domestic violence prosecutions involves assault, especially third degree assault under C.R.S. § 18-3-204. Third degree assault occurs when a person knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person, or with criminal negligence causes bodily injury by means of a deadly weapon, and it is classified as a class 1 misdemeanor. When prosecutors claim the alleged victim was an intimate partner, that assault charge may carry the domestic violence designation, which substantially changes the practical consequences of the case.
Criminal Harassment — Harassment is another frequent domestic violence-related allegation, particularly where the prosecution claims repeated contact, following, unwanted physical contact, or threatening communications during or after a relationship dispute. C.R.S. § 18-9-111 covers several forms of harassment, including striking, shoving, kicking, following a person in a public place, and certain electronic communications made with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm. In domestic cases, harassment allegations are often tied to arguments about controlling behavior, stalking-like conduct, or repeated unwanted contact after separation.
False Imprisonment — Domestic violence cases sometimes include allegations that one partner confined or detained the other without consent and without lawful authority. Colorado’s false imprisonment statute, C.R.S. § 18-3-303, makes that conduct a class 2 misdemeanor in ordinary cases, but it can become a class 5 felony in certain aggravated situations, including prolonged detention involving force or specific child-related conduct. In the domestic violence setting, these allegations often arise when prosecutors claim someone blocked a doorway, prevented a partner from leaving, took away a phone, restrained movement, or confined a person during an argument.
Kidnapping and Serious Restraint — When prosecutors believe the restraint or movement of the alleged victim was more serious, they may file kidnapping-related charges instead of or in addition to false imprisonment. Colorado’s kidnapping statutes are found in Title 18, Article 3, Part 3, and they may become relevant in domestic cases involving movement of a partner or child, threats, weapons, or efforts to isolate the person from help. Even when the facts do not justify a true kidnapping charge, law enforcement sometimes frames the case aggressively early in the process, making detailed defense analysis critical.
Reckless Endangerment — Reckless endangerment under C.R.S. § 18-3-208 is charged when a person recklessly engages in conduct that creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to another person, and it is a class 2 misdemeanor. In domestic violence cases, this may arise from allegations involving reckless driving with a partner in the vehicle, throwing objects, brandishing a dangerous item, or exposing a partner or child to dangerous conditions during a confrontation. Prosecutors often use this charge where they believe the conduct was highly dangerous even if no bodily injury can be clearly proven.
Protection Order Violations — Protection order issues are extremely common in domestic violence cases because Colorado automatically creates a mandatory criminal protection order at arraignment or the defendant’s first appearance in many Title 18 cases. Under C.R.S. § 18-1-1001, that order remains in effect until final disposition unless the court changes it, and it can prohibit contact, presence at certain locations, alcohol or substance use, firearm possession, and other conduct. If a defendant later violates that order, C.R.S. § 18-6-803.5 allows a separate prosecution for violation of a protection order, which may be a class 2 or class 1 misdemeanor depending on the facts, prior history, and whether the parties were in an intimate relationship.
Child Abuse — Domestic violence allegations often overlap with child abuse accusations where the state claims that a child was injured, exposed to danger, or placed in an unreasonably threatening situation during violence between adults. Colorado’s child abuse statute, C.R.S. § 18-6-401, is broad and covers causing injury to a child’s life or health or permitting a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that poses a threat of injury. This is one of the most serious overlaps in domestic violence litigation because it can transform a misdemeanor domestic case into one involving severe felony exposure depending on injury and mental-state allegations.
Custodial Interference / Parental Kidnapping — Relationship breakdowns that involve children may result in accusations under C.R.S. § 18-3-304, Colorado’s violation of custody order or order relating to parental responsibilities statute. That section makes it a class 5 felony, in relevant part, to take or entice a child from the custody or care of a lawful custodian or to violate a custody or parental-responsibilities order with intent to deprive the lawful custodian of the care of the child. In practice, these charges are sometimes described informally as parental kidnapping or custodial interference and may surface during especially hostile domestic disputes.
Child Abandonment — While Colorado may not always use the exact phrase “child abandonment” as a stand-alone domestic violence charge in the same way some people expect, domestic cases frequently involve child-abuse theories based on neglect, dangerous exposure, cruel punishment, failure to provide care, or allowing a child to remain in threatening circumstances. Those allegations generally flow through C.R.S. § 18-6-401 rather than a narrowly labeled “abandonment” offense. When prosecutors believe a child was left endangered by domestic violence, the child-abuse statute often becomes the vehicle they use.
Abuse of a Pregnant Female — Colorado has a separate article of criminal law dealing with offenses against pregnant women. For example, unlawful termination of pregnancy in the fourth degree under C.R.S. § 18-3.5-106 applies when a person recklessly causes the unlawful termination of a pregnancy at a time when the person knew or reasonably should have known the woman was pregnant, and it is a class 6 felony, or a class 5 felony in certain listed offense contexts. In domestic violence cases involving pregnant victims, prosecutors may combine ordinary assault or violence allegations with pregnancy-related felony charges depending on the facts.
Shaken Baby Syndrome and Child Injury Cases — Colorado law does not create one exclusive offense called “shaken baby syndrome,” but those allegations often appear through child abuse, assault, or homicide-related charges where a young child is alleged to have suffered severe head trauma or other catastrophic injury. In the domestic violence context, these are among the most serious family-related prosecutions because they may involve both child abuse under C.R.S. § 18-6-401 and severe felony or death-resulting theories. These cases are medically and legally complex and often require careful expert analysis.
Habitual Domestic Violence Offender Cases — Colorado has a specific habitual domestic violence offender provision in C.R.S. § 18-6-801(7). Under that statute, any misdemeanor offense that includes an act of domestic violence becomes a class 5 felony if, at the time of sentencing, the defendant has previously been convicted of three or more prior offenses that included an act of domestic violence and those offenses were separately brought and tried and arose out of separate criminal episodes. This is one of the most important escalation provisions in Colorado domestic violence law because it can convert what would otherwise be a misdemeanor into a felony.
Penalties for Domestic Violence in Colorado
Colorado domestic violence penalties are often misunderstood because the domestic violence designation does not automatically create one single punishment range by itself. Instead, the sentence usually depends on the underlying offense classification, and then the domestic violence designation adds mandatory treatment, protection order consequences, firearm relinquishment after conviction, and in some cases felony escalation through the habitual domestic violence offender statute. That means a person must look at both the underlying crime and the domestic violence consequences at the same time.
Class 1 Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Charges — Many common underlying domestic violence charges, such as third degree assault, are class 1 misdemeanors. For offenses committed on or after March 1, 2022, a class 1 misdemeanor carries up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A class 1 misdemeanor domestic violence conviction also triggers the special domestic violence consequences discussed below, including required treatment and firearm relinquishment after conviction.
Class 2 Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Charges — Other common related offenses, such as ordinary false imprisonment or reckless endangerment, may be charged as class 2 misdemeanors depending on the facts. For offenses committed on or after March 1, 2022, a class 2 misdemeanor carries up to 120 days in jail, a fine of up to $750, or both. Even though these are lower-level misdemeanors than class 1 offenses, the domestic violence designation still brings major additional consequences that can make the case much more serious in practice.
Felony Domestic Violence Charges Based on the Underlying Crime — If the underlying offense is itself a felony, the domestic violence designation rides on top of that felony rather than replacing it. For offenses committed on or after July 1, 2020, a class 5 felony generally carries 1 to 3 years in prison and 2 years of mandatory parole, while a class 6 felony generally carries 1 year to 18 months in prison and 1 year of mandatory parole. Colorado’s felony sentencing statute also provides fine ranges for felonies, including $1,000 to $100,000 for class 5 and class 6 felonies. Those ranges can become highly relevant in domestic violence cases involving felony child abuse, custodial interference, false imprisonment aggravators, or pregnancy-related charges.
Habitual Domestic Violence Offender Penalty — Under C.R.S. § 18-6-801(7), any misdemeanor offense that includes an act of domestic violence becomes a class 5 felony if the defendant has been previously convicted of three or more prior offenses that included an act of domestic violence and arose out of separate criminal episodes. For current offenses committed on or after July 1, 2020, a class 5 felony carries 1 to 3 years in prison, 2 years of mandatory parole, and the general class 5 felony fine range of $1,000 to $100,000. This is one of the most important reasons repeat domestic violence cases can become dramatically more dangerous for a defendant than the charge title alone suggests.
Protection Order Violation Penalties — If a defendant is separately charged with violating a protection order under C.R.S. § 18-6-803.5, the offense is a class 2 misdemeanor in some situations but becomes a class 1 misdemeanor if the restrained person has a prior conviction for violating the statute, if the protection order was issued under C.R.S. § 18-1-1001, or if the basis for issuing the protection order included an allegation of stalking or the parties were in an intimate relationship. That means a protection-order violation tied to a domestic violence case is often prosecuted as a class 1 misdemeanor with up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, rather than just a lower-level misdemeanor.
Mandatory Domestic Violence Treatment — C.R.S. § 18-6-801(1) provides that, in addition to any sentence imposed for the underlying crime, a person convicted of a crime whose factual basis includes an act of domestic violence shall be ordered to complete a treatment evaluation and a treatment program that conforms with standards adopted by the domestic violence offender management board. This means the domestic violence designation is not just a label; it can create mandatory treatment consequences even in cases that do not involve jail or prison sentences.
Firearm Relinquishment After Conviction — Colorado law also imposes firearm consequences in many domestic violence cases. Under C.R.S. § 18-6-801(8), if a defendant is convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence as defined in federal law, or another qualifying offense that includes an act of domestic violence, the court shall order the defendant to refrain from possessing or purchasing firearms or ammunition until the sentence is satisfied and to relinquish any firearms or ammunition. The defendant generally must relinquish within 24 hours after sentencing, excluding weekends and legal holidays, subject to limited additional time for good cause, and a compliance hearing is set 8 to 12 business days after sentencing.
Protection Order Consequences During the Case — Even before conviction, a domestic violence defendant is usually placed under a mandatory criminal protection order. C.R.S. § 18-1-1001 states that the order is created at arraignment or first appearance and restrains the defendant from harassing, intimidating, retaliating against, or tampering with protected persons. The court may also order the defendant to stay away from the home, avoid contact, refrain from possessing firearms or other weapons, and in some cases refrain from possessing or consuming alcohol or controlled substances if the court deems it appropriate for safety.
Defenses to Domestic Violence Charges
No Underlying Crime Can Be Proven — Because domestic violence is usually an enhancer or designation rather than a standalone substantive charge, the prosecution still has to prove the underlying offense. If the assault, harassment, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, child abuse, or other crime cannot be established beyond a reasonable doubt, the domestic violence case fails with it. Defense counsel therefore often focuses first on whether the alleged criminal conduct can be proven at all.
No Intimate Relationship Under the Statute — The prosecution must also prove the existence of the type of relationship required by C.R.S. § 18-6-800.3 when it relies on the core domestic violence definition. In some cases, the parties were acquaintances, roommates, former acquaintances, or people whose connection does not actually meet the statutory standard. When the prosecution cannot prove the required relationship, the domestic violence designation itself may fail even if the state still pursues the underlying offense.
Self-Defense or Defense of Another — Some domestic violence cases arise from mutual arguments, chaotic confrontations, or situations where the accused claims they were trying to protect themselves or another person. Colorado self-defense law may become important where the physical evidence, witness accounts, or context suggest that the prosecution’s narrative is incomplete or misleading. These cases require careful factual reconstruction because law enforcement often makes an arrest before the full story is clear.
False Allegations, Retaliation, or Relationship Manipulation — Domestic violence allegations sometimes arise during divorce, custody disputes, jealousy conflicts, housing problems, or attempts to gain leverage in family court. That does not mean every allegation is false, but it does mean the defense must examine motive, prior statements, contradictory communications, and whether the accusing witness’s account has shifted over time. In emotionally charged cases, credibility often becomes one of the most important issues at trial.
Insufficient Proof of Intent or Mental State — Many related offenses require the prosecution to prove knowing, intentional, reckless, or criminally negligent conduct. In real-life domestic conflicts, actions may be accidental, defensive, misinterpreted, or taken out of context. Defense counsel closely analyzes the exact mental state required for the charged offense and whether the evidence truly supports it.
Constitutional and Procedural Violations — Unlawful entry, improper questioning, search issues, confrontation problems, evidentiary errors, and protection-order procedure issues can all shape the defense. These cases often move fast, and courts may enter sweeping orders at the beginning of the case, so it is critical to examine whether the prosecution and law enforcement followed the required legal process at every stage.
Role of a Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney
A Colorado domestic violence defense attorney must do more than respond to a single police report. Counsel has to evaluate the underlying criminal charge, the alleged intimate relationship, the protection order, the treatment consequences, firearm issues, and the possibility of future habitual-offender exposure. Domestic violence litigation therefore demands both factual investigation and long-range strategic thinking.
The attorney also has to understand how Colorado’s domestic violence designation affects plea bargaining. Under C.R.S. § 18-6-801(3), a defendant charged with an offense whose factual basis includes domestic violence is not entitled to plead guilty to an offense without the domestic violence designation unless the prosecutor makes a good-faith representation on the record that the intimate relationship element could not be established and the court makes the required findings. That means a defense lawyer must be prepared to attack the legal basis for the domestic violence designation directly rather than assuming it can simply be bargained away.
A defense attorney also protects the client from avoidable secondary damage. That includes challenging overbroad protection order terms, advising on no-contact issues, addressing firearm relinquishment obligations, preparing for treatment consequences, and defending against related charges such as protection order violations or habitual domestic violence offender allegations. In Colorado domestic violence cases, the collateral effects are often just as serious as the sentence itself.
Key Elements the Prosecution Must Prove
To secure a conviction in a Colorado domestic violence case, the prosecution must prove the elements of the underlying offense beyond a reasonable doubt. If the case is based on assault, harassment, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, child abuse, custodial interference, or another predicate offense, the state must prove every element of that crime under the relevant statute. The domestic violence label does not replace the need to prove the underlying offense.
In addition, the state must prove the domestic violence designation itself where required. That usually means proving an act or threatened act of violence, or another crime against a person or property used as coercion, control, punishment, intimidation, or revenge, directed against someone with whom the accused is or was in an intimate relationship as defined by C.R.S. § 18-6-800.3. If the prosecution cannot prove the required relationship or domestic context, the designation may fail even if the court still considers the underlying charge separately.
Domestic Violence Protective Orders in Colorado and What They Do
In Colorado, a domestic violence case almost always brings an immediate protection-order issue. Under C.R.S. § 18-1-1001, when a person is charged with a criminal violation under Title 18, the court creates a mandatory protection order at arraignment or the defendant’s first appearance, and that order remains in effect until the final disposition of the case unless the court changes it. In domestic violence prosecutions, this means the defendant is often placed under court-ordered restrictions before the case has been resolved, sometimes within hours of arrest.
The core purpose of the criminal protection order is to prevent harassment, intimidation, retaliation, tampering, or further conflict involving the alleged victim or any witness. The statute requires that the order restrain the defendant from harassing, molesting, intimidating, retaliating against, or tampering with a victim or witness. In practice, that means the order is designed to stabilize the situation immediately and give the court continuing control over contact and safety conditions while the case is pending.
A Colorado domestic violence protection order can impose a wide range of restrictions depending on what the court believes is necessary for safety. Under C.R.S. § 18-1-1001, the court may order the defendant to vacate or stay away from the home of the alleged victim or witness, stay away from other locations where the person is likely to be found, refrain from direct or indirect contact or communication, avoid possession or control of firearms or other weapons, and even avoid possession or consumption of alcohol or controlled substances if the court deems that restriction appropriate for safety. The statute also allows the court to protect animals owned or kept by the alleged victim and to enter any other order it believes is necessary to protect the protected person from imminent danger.
One of the most important practical effects of a domestic violence protection order is that it can disrupt daily life immediately, even before trial. A defendant may be ordered out of a shared home, prohibited from contacting a spouse or partner, restricted from going to certain places, and unable to communicate about children or property except in ways specifically allowed by the court. In some cases, defendants mistakenly believe that if the other person wants contact, the order no longer matters, but the order belongs to the court, not to the alleged victim, and only the court can modify it. That is one reason these orders create so much legal risk early in a domestic violence case.
Firearm consequences can be especially serious. Colorado’s criminal protection-order statute allows the court to prohibit possession or control of firearms or other weapons, and Colorado’s civil protection-order firearm statute, C.R.S. § 13-14-105.5, requires firearm and ammunition relinquishment in qualifying domestic violence protection order situations involving the threat, use, or attempted use of physical force. That statute generally requires relinquishment within 24 hours after open-court service, excluding weekends and legal holidays, or within 48 hours if served outside of court, again excluding weekends and legal holidays, subject to limited additional time for good cause. The court must also set a compliance hearing so the respondent can be required to show that relinquishment occurred.
It is also important to understand that Colorado has both criminal protection orders and civil protection orders. The criminal protection order arises automatically in the criminal case under C.R.S. § 18-1-1001. Separate from that, the Colorado Judicial Branch explains that a person may seek a civil protection order—sometimes called a restraining order—which can limit contact, threats, stalking, harassment, and access to certain locations such as home, school, or work. Civil protection orders can therefore exist independently of the criminal prosecution and may continue even after the criminal case ends.
Because these orders can affect housing, parenting, communication, firearms, employment, and future plea negotiations, a defense attorney must address them immediately rather than treating them as a side issue. In many domestic violence cases, one of the first major defense tasks is to determine what the order actually prohibits, whether modifications should be requested, how the defendant can avoid accidental violations, and whether the court has imposed restrictions broader than the facts justify. A violation of the order can become a separate criminal case, so understanding exactly what the protection order does is a critical part of defending any Colorado domestic violence charge.
How to Get a Protection Order Dropped in Colorado
If you are seeking a lawyer because you have been arrested on charges of familial abuse or assault, then you will already have been served with a Mandatory Protection Order, which is required under Colorado Statutes.
Following your arrest, the court might impose pre-trial release conditions that require you to:
- Get out of the victim’s house, even if it is yours
- Stay away from the house and anywhere the victim might be
- Not contact the victim; harass, retaliate or intimidate the victim
- Not possess a gun
- Not drink alcohol
The best way to be rid of a protection order is to hire an experienced domestic violence attorney as soon as possible. It is the job of a domestic violence attorney to present what happened in context, so the jury understands the defense’s version of events. Some domestic violence situations involve self-defense from the alleged “aggressor”. Other allegations are contrived and made in order to influence the outcome of a divorce or custody battle. While some plaintiffs file charges or a petition for a protection order simply because an argument got out of hand.
However, these details don’t always matter to police. The job of your attorney is to make those facts stand out, so they do matter. A domestic violence defense attorney in Denver can put the facts of your case into context, and then challenge those facts whenever appropriate and possible.
During a protective order hearing, the police, prosecutors, judges, and juries generally look at a case from the perspective of a victim, which is simply not always fair. Having an attorney on your side can give you the advantage and the zealous advocacy you’ll need to prove you weren’t guilty of a domestic violence offense. They can help you contest against the protective order you’re under by supplying credible evidence proving you’re not a danger to the plaintiff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is domestic violence a separate crime in Colorado?
Usually no. In most cases, domestic violence is a designation attached to an underlying offense when the facts fit the domestic violence statute. The prosecution still has to prove the underlying crime itself.
Can I have a domestic violence case without living together?
Yes. Colorado’s definition of intimate relationship includes spouses, former spouses, past or present unmarried couples, and parents of the same child, whether or not they ever lived together.
Will the court enter a no-contact or protection order automatically?
Colorado law creates a mandatory protection order at arraignment or first appearance in qualifying criminal cases, and domestic violence defendants often face extensive no-contact, stay-away, or firearm restrictions while the case is pending.
Can a misdemeanor domestic violence case become a felony?
Yes. A misdemeanor offense that includes an act of domestic violence becomes a class 5 felony if the defendant has three or more qualifying prior domestic violence offenses arising out of separate criminal episodes.
Do I have to do treatment if I am convicted?
In most Colorado domestic violence convictions, yes. The statute requires a treatment evaluation and completion of a qualifying treatment program in addition to the sentence for the underlying crime.
Can I lose my gun rights in a domestic violence case?
Yes. After qualifying domestic violence convictions, Colorado law requires firearm relinquishment and prohibits possession or purchase until the sentence is satisfied. Protection orders may also impose weapon restrictions while the case is pending.
Additional Resources
Colorado’s Domestic Violence Program – The mission of the Domestic Violence Program (DVP) is to prevent domestic violence and provide community-based domestic violence advocacy programs. DVP provides resources for the alleged victims of domestic violence. sexual assault, stalking, or harassment. Domestic violence crimes also involve violation of a protection order based on prohibiting conduct, locating, firearms, or ammunition.
Denver DA Family Violence Unit (“FVU”) – Visit the website of the District Attorney’s Office of Denver, Colorado, to learn more about the Family Violence Unit (“FVU”). The FVU is a specialized unit that prosecutes all felonies involving domestic violence, including physical assaults, sexual assaults, stalking cases, and offenses relating to a violation of orders of protection. Prosecutors, advocates, and investigators in the FVU receive special training to deal with the victims of intimate partner violence or child abuse.
Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-6-800.3 — This is the core domestic violence definition statute. It defines domestic violence and intimate relationship and is the starting point for understanding how Colorado treats these cases.
Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-6-801 — This statute explains Colorado domestic violence sentencing consequences, including mandatory treatment, restrictions on pleading away the designation, habitual domestic violence offender rules, and firearm relinquishment after conviction.
Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-1-1001 — This statute governs mandatory criminal protection orders and explains the court’s authority to impose no-contact, stay-away, firearm, and alcohol or controlled-substance restrictions while the case is pending.
Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-6-803.5 — This statute defines the crime of violation of a protection order and explains when the offense is treated as a class 2 misdemeanor or a class 1 misdemeanor. It is especially important in domestic violence cases because protection order violations frequently become separate criminal cases.
Domestic Abuse Attorney in Denver, CO
Domestic violence charges in Colorado can quickly become much bigger than the underlying accusation alone. A case that begins as a misdemeanor assault or harassment allegation may lead to a mandatory protection order, loss of contact with family, treatment requirements, firearm relinquishment, future felony exposure, and severe damage to employment, reputation, and family-court positions. These cases require careful legal analysis, strategic defense planning, and a lawyer who understands how the domestic violence designation changes every stage of the prosecution.
With over 30 years of experience, attorney Martin has faced every obstacle you can imagine in a domestic violence case. He can utilize his practice for you and develop a strong defense plan so you face minimal penalties. Call 303.725.0017 today to set up your first consultation. Denvers Defense Attorney accepts clients throughout the greater Denver metropolitan area and surrounding counties including Douglas County, Broomfield County, Jefferson County, and Boulder County.