Weld County Jail and Courthouse Information

Weld District Courts vs. Weld County Courts in Greeley

The Weld County Court in Greeley, Colorado is home to both the County Court and the District Court, but there are important differences between the two. County Courts oversee misdemeanor cases within a specific county, whereas the District Court oversees felony cases within one of the 22 different judicial districts in Colorado. The 19^th Judicial District only covers Weld County. Nearly every county has it own district courthouse, sometimes joining a judicial district comprised of several counties in the same judicial district.

County and District Courts also handle different kinds of cases. With regards to criminal matters, County Courts handle misdemeanors, protection orders, traffic infractions, and the initial stages of some felony complaints. District Courts handle all juvenile and felony cases. Felony trials will always be in District Court.

Bail and Bond for Persons Arrested in Weld County

Getting Someone Out of the Weld County Jail

When a person is arrested and booked into the Weld County Jail, bail must be posted in one of many forms. This is a set amount of money, a promise to pay or other collateral that will allow the inmate to be released. When an inmate posts bail, they agree they will attend all court hearings pertaining to their case. Once the case has finished, the former inmate will receive his or her bond money back if they attended all their court appearances and conditions of bail. Generally, the more severe the crime, the higher the bail bond will be, though many other elements also have an impact on the amount of the bail bond. The bigger the case, the tighter the restrictions on that release.

Weld County Jury Trials vs. Judge Trials in Greeley Courts

Most Weld County criminal offense cases do not end up going to trial. If a case does go to trial, however, the defendant has the option of having a bench / judge trial or a jury trial. There are very few advantages to judge trials, so 90 percent or more of serious cases will be jury trials. The main disadvantage of a judge trial is that the judge is too closely aligned with the county, just like the District Attorney, to provide a truly objective hearing of the evidence. Most judges work with the same DA every day, and they seem to favor the government’s case when the public is watching. Members of a jury don’t know the judge, DA or police officers. And, since judges are subject to regular retention votes, they fear they may be perceived as “soft on crime” if they find people not-guilty too often. Whether a defendant chooses a judge trial or jury trial depends entirely on them, their case, and the recommendation of their criminal defense attorney. The defense attorney knows the reputation of the judge and the DA, and can provide great insight into details you’ll never consider. Click here to read more about jury and judge trials.

Probation in Weld County

How Long is Probation and What are its Terms?

Probation in Weld County is a sentencing option for a judge, rather than sending the defendant to the Weld County Jail or the Colorado Department of Corrections. While on probation, a probationer will have to adhere to several different conditions of probation, such as checking in regularly with her Probation Officer and attending treatment. Probation puts terms and conditions in place to try and fix things which contributed to the defendant’s crime. If drugs were involved, then drug treatment. If Domestic Violence was involved, then Domestic Violence treatment. If sexual compulsivity, then sex offender treatment. If a defendant refuses or fails to comply with probation officer rules, they risk having their probation revoked, and a sentence jail or prison will be likely. Probation can often be demanding and difficult, but it provides great incentive for people to acquire tools and learn to change their behaviors and become safer and more productive members of society. Probation is great for most people, but some cannot or refuse to change their habits and are bad candidates for probation.

Record Sealing of a Criminal Case in Greeley Courts

If you have a criminal record, it is worthwhile to look into whether you and your lawyer can file a motion with the Greeley Court / Weld County Court to have it sealed. More likely than not, if you have applied for a job, attended a college or university, or bought a house, your criminal history was checked. Unfortunately, this means that you probably have experienced difficulty finding employment, being accepted to a university, or finding housing. The good news is that depending on your offense and how long it has been since you have completed sentencing requirements, you may be eligible to have your criminal record sealed. Every year, Colorado law is changed to make it easier to seal your record, so don’t rely on the law from years past.

Sex Offender Deregistration for Weld County Sex Offenses and Crimes

After conviction for a sex crime, sex offenders are required by Colorado law to register on the Sex Offender Registry. Depending on your sex offense, you are generally able to petition to deregister from the Registry after a certain period of time has elapsed following completion of all sentencing requirements. Some sex crimes have lifetime registration for sex offenders which does not permit deregistration. There are many benefits of petitioning to deregister, such as having greater freedom to choose where you live and better job opportunities. Having a criminal defense attorney advocate for you when petitioning to deregister will make all the difference in whether or not you are successful in this process. After hundreds of deregistration cases, our defense lawyers know the process and the rules.