By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer
Colorado Domestic Violence Law – Arrests for Violations of Civil Protection – Restraining Orders – The intersection of Colorado domestic violence law and civil restraining orders LINK is both complex and dangerous. What may seem at first as a nuisance – a civil restraining order served on you at a time when you are having difficulties with a significant other – can very quickly result in an arrest for seemingly minor direct or third party contact – lead to mandatory NO BOND incarceration and the start of a criminal case that may end a lifetime of achievements and or future goals.
While Colorado civil and criminal laws almost always target different result – this is an area – Colorado domestic violence cases – where they combine in a dangerous way.
Colorado domestic violence laws can blur the distinction between a civil and criminal offense. Thousands of restraining orders are routinely granted every year all across Colorado. Mostly men – not fully understanding the danger – ignore them – don’t show up to fight them – or concede the entry of the order if they do come to court.
Not even addressing the impact such an order will have on your gun rights – a Colorado civil restraining order carries the potential of a permanent criminal conviction after arrest and the mandatory no bail hold that follows. Grounds for the violation of these trip wire restraining orders include inadvertently engaging in the most minor or technical infractions of the no contact provisons of most restraining orders.
There is also a double standard when it comes to the decision of whether the arrest of a person suspected of violating a civil restraining order has occurred. While law enforcement is supposed to enforce Colorado’s laws without bias or pre-conception, women in these matters are almost always perceived as the victim. Police officers are ideologically driven to treat women as victims no matter what the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegations.
The “You Call, We Haul” Justice system mandates warrantless arrests in the most unserious of situations.
Domestic violence cases in Colorado are almost always misdemeanors, yet Colorado and at least 29 other states and the District of Columbia have laws that mandate arrest. The principle of innocent until proven guilty is completely disregarded as these – mostly men – are herded into jails – then forced into FAST TRACK court hearings intended to take advantage of the confusion and fear that only an arrest and incarceration can bring to bear.
Victim advocates – biased on behalf of the alleged female victims – ignore all evidence of shared culpability and exercise their considerable influence on women – which influence includes seeking the civil protection order.
The greatest distortion of the Colorado criminal justice system has result from the federal influence of the VAWA.
The research underlying VAWA ignores the reality that more than half of all partner aggression is mutual. The Act impacts the right of self defense. Thus if a man defends himself and somehow injures the attacking female – then flees the scene – the police – rather than conduct an unbiased investigation – limit the investigation to the interview of the alleged victim – concluding quickly that he was the aggressor.
What follows is the law – applied in these cases – a law carved out which is APPLIED ONLY IN COLORADO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INVESTIGATIONS
While the law sets out what appear to be fair criteria where there are two possible suspects – the actual enforcement of the law is not consistent with that principle. Colorado state law – in this case – is very specific about the legal responsibilities and law enforcement duties of peace officers, in the investigations of alleged incidents of domestic violence.
The Colorado State legislature requires the arrest of the alleged perpetrator. C.R.S. § 18-6-803.6 requires ;aw enforcement – having probable cause to believe a person has committed “an act of domestic violence” to arrest that person.
A summons (ticket) CANNOT be used – the person must be arrested “without undue delay” and as noted must remain in custody without bond until seen by a judge.
Here is the relevant law:
(1) When a peace officer determines that there is probable cause to believe that a crime or offense involving domestic violence, as defined in section 18-6-800.3 (1), …has been committed, the officer shall, without undue delay, arrest the person suspected of its commission pursuant to the provisions in subsection (2) of this section, if applicable, and charge the person with the appropriate crime or offense.
Nothing in this subsection (1) shall be construed to require a peace officer to arrest both parties involved in an alleged act of domestic violence when both claim to have been victims of such domestic violence.
Additionally, nothing in this subsection (1) shall be construed to require a peace officer to arrest either party involved in an alleged act of domestic violence when a peace officer determines there is no probable cause to believe that a crime or offense of domestic violence has been committed. The arrested person shall be removed from the scene of the arrest and shall be taken to the peace officer’s station for booking, whereupon the arrested person may be held or released in accordance with the adopted bonding schedules for the jurisdiction in which the arrest is made.
(2) If a peace officer receives complaints of domestic violence from two or more opposing persons, the officer shall evaluate each complaint separately to determine if a crime has been committed by one or more persons. In determining whether a crime has been committed by one or more persons, the officer shall consider the following:
(a) Any prior complaints of domestic violence;
(b) The relative severity of the injuries inflicted on each person;
(c) The likelihood of future injury to each person; and
(d) The possibility that one of the persons acted in self-defense.
(3) (a) A peace officer is authorized to use every reasonable means to protect the alleged victim or the alleged victim’s children to prevent further violence. Such peace officer may transport, or obtain transportation for, the alleged victim to shelter. Upon the request of the protected person, the peace officer may also transport the minor child of the protected person, who is not an emancipated minor, to the same shelter if such shelter is willing to accept the child, whether or not there is a custody order or an order for the care and control of the child or an order allocating parental responsibilities with respect to the child and whether or not the other parent objects. A peace officer who transports a minor child over the objection of the other parent shall not be held liable for any damages that may result from interference with the custody, parental responsibilities, care, and control of or access to a minor child in complying with this subsection (3).
(b) For purposes of this subsection (3), “shelter” means a battered women’s shelter, a friend’s or family member’s home, or such other safe haven as may be designated by the protected person and which is within a reasonable distance from the location at which the peace officer found the victim.
(4) (a) The arresting agency shall make reasonable efforts to collect and preserve any pertinent evidence until the time of final disposition of the matter, including, but not limited to, the following:
(I) Any dispatch tape recording relating to the event;
(II) Any on-scene video or audio tape recordings;
(III) Any medical records of treatment of the alleged victim or the defendant; and
(IV) Any other relevant physical evidence or witness statements.
(b) However, in the absence of bad faith, any failure to collect or preserve any evidence listed in paragraph (a) of this subsection (4) shall not be grounds to dismiss the matter.
(4.5) When a peace officer responds to a call or is otherwise responding to a report about an alleged offense involving domestic violence, as defined in section 18-6-800.3 (1), or other domestic dispute, the officer shall include in his or her written or oral report concerning such incident whether children may have seen or heard the alleged offense; except that, in the absence of bad faith, the failure of a peace officer to note that a child may have seen or heard the alleged offense shall not be grounds to dismiss the matter.
…
A different law CRS 18-6-803.5 requires:
…(3)(a) “Whenever a restraining order is issued, the protected person shall be provided with a copy of such order. A peace officer shall use every reasonable means to enforce a restraining order.”
(3)(b) “A peace officer shall arrest, or, if an arrest would be impractical under the circumstances, seek a warrant for the arrest of a restrained person when the peace officer has information amounting to probable cause that:
(I) The restrained person has violated or attempted to violate any provision of a restraining order;
and
(II) The restrained person has been properly served with a copy of the restraining order or the restrained person has received actual notice of the existence and substance of such order…”
In investigations of domestic violence, a peace officer must:
1. render/provide medical aid,
2. conduct an investigation,
3. physically arrest and remove the suspect from the scene,
4. transport the victim and children, if applicable, to shelter,
5. investigate and arrest violators of restraining orders
or,
6. if an arrest is not applicable at the time, to obtain an arrest warrant for the violator.
Do NOT treat Colorado Civil Restraining Orders Lightly – if arrested – you will be prosecuted under the Colorado criminal statute – Violation of A Restraining Order – commonly referred to by those of us in the profession as a VPO.
(1) A person commits the crime of violation of a restraining order if such person contacts, harasses, injures, intimidates, molests, threatens, or touches any protected person or enters or remains on premises or comes within a specified distance of a protected person or premises, and such conduct is prohibited by a restraining order, after such person has been personally served with any such order or otherwise has acquired from the court actual knowledge of the contents of any such order.
(2) Violation of a restraining order is a Class 2 Misdemeanor, except that, if the restrained person has previously been convicted of violating this section or a former version of this section or an analogous municipal ordinance, or if the restraining order is issued pursuant to CRS 18-1-1001 (defendant in criminal case not harassing a victim or witness), the violation is a Class 1 Misdemeanor
Denver Colorado Domestic Violence Criminal Defense Lawyer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: : H. Michael Steinberg – (Email The Author [email protected]) or call his office at 303-627-7777 during business hours – or call his cell if you cannot wait and need his immediate assistance – 720-227-7777.
If you are charged with A Colorado crime or you have questions about Colorado Domestic Violence Law – Arrests for Violations of Civil Protection – Restraining Orders, please call our office. The Law Offices of H. Michael Steinberg, in Denver, Colorado, provide criminal defense clients with effective, efficient, intelligent and strong legal advocacy. We can educate you and help you navigate the stressful and complex legal process related to your criminal defense issue.
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H. Michael Steinberg, is a Denver, Colorado criminal defense lawyer with over 40 years of day to day courtroom experience – specializing in Colorado Criminal Law along the Front Range. He will provide you with a free initial case consultation to evaluate your legal issues and to answer your questions with an honest assessment of your options. Remember, it costs NOTHING to discuss your case. So call now for an immediate free phone consultation.
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