Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer

Passed through the Senate Finance Committee and now on to the Senate Appropriations Committee, a bill that would expand the Colorado hate crimes law may be on its way to the floor of the legislature if some get their way. The bill seeks to include “homeless people” amongst those populations protected by the law, an expansion that many find to be overreaching. [Read More...]

A several-time felon who had received multiple second chances is now charged with first degree murder in the death and mutilation of his sixteen year old neighbor girl. The Denver Post is reporting his case is an example on how budgetary constraints are forcing courts to release dangerous individuals who would be best served behind bars. While this may be true in this particular case, one shouldn’t forget that such tragedies are extremely rare. [Read More...]

The Police Chief and several other officials in Pueblo are up in arms over a book which states the town has the highest crime rate in all of Colorado. One look at this article from The Pueblo Chieftan reveals some interesting points—that perhaps the people in charge are paying a little too much attention to statistics and how they are viewed than the real problems. [Read More...]

Of the many issues before voters yesterday, Proposition 102 was just one that was struck down. But it was an important victory and evidence that the voting public won’t be fooled by “tough on crime” rhetoric when it’s carelessly used to sell a standard that’s too far off the course of true justice. [Read More...]

A Nebraska man now living in Denver was sentenced last week for menacing a teenage girl in a suburban parking lot. Originally charged with a felony, the misdemeanor he was convicted on carried 3 years of probation and 75 hours of community service. What makes this story interesting, however, is the man’s background and some eerie similarities to this case and one nearly twenty years ago. [Read More...]

Recently, the New York Times profiled a new practice within the Missouri criminal courts. Judges are being told just how much incarceration will cost at the sentencing stage. Now, Colorado’s Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice is toying with implementing the practice here, something that not everyone approves of. [Read More...]

A Citizen Oversight Board which is tasked for reviewing police action recently released two reports, both taking issue with the level of punishment meted out in two separate cases of police misconduct. The Chief of Police is questioning the process by which the Board reviews cases and claims law enforcement doesn’t have the chance to defend their actions before an opinion is reached. [Read More...]

Like many states, Colorado is taking steps to ease prison sentences and lighten the budgetary burden. According to the Denver Post, Governor Ritter is signing several bills into law today that will focus more on rehabilitation and treatment, freeing up estimated millions typically spent on incarceration. [Read More...]

There are several strange stories this week of thefts within Colorado. Not your normal convenience store shoplifters, these thefts are all a little on the strange or at least unusual side. They just go to show that not all criminal offenses are cut and dry, there are unusual circumstances present in nearly every case. [Read More...]

According to the Denver Post, the amount owed to the State in fines and court costs could cut the state deficit in half. [Read More...]