Colorado Law for Protection Orders and Restraining Orders | Weld County Lawyer for Protection Orders
When you're involved in a criminal case in Colorado, a Protection Order is automatically put in place to protect the victim and witnesses. Generally in Weld County, Criminal Protection Orders will be active until the end of the case, which includes the sentence time the defendant serves, if that is the outcome. Many times, victims will choose to also file for a Civil Protection Order or Restraining Order against our client. Civil Restraining Orders are permanent, and therefore would continue even after the case is completed. If you think the Protection Order or Restraining Order against you has unfair and unreasonable conditions, our attorneys will be able to discuss your options to alter the order.
Civil Protection / Restraining Orders - C.R.S. 13-14-102 – for more information on Civil Protection Orders
Criminal Protection / Restraining Order - C.R.S. 18-1-1001- for more information on Criminal Protection Orders
Dismissal or Modification of a Civil Protection Order – for more information on changing Civil Protection Orders
Violations of a Protection Order - for more information on how a person may violate a Protection Order and its consequences
Hiring an Attorney for my Protection / Restraining Order in Weld County
If there is a Protection Order or Restraining Order against you in Weld County, you will want an attorney who can explain the details of the order and make sure it was properly served on you. You will also want someone who can fight for modifications in case the order’s conditions limit your freedom too much. If your Protection Order was granted to protect your wife, and therefore interfering with child – parent time, then you will want one of our Protection Order attorneys fighting for a modification. Or if your Restraining Order keeps you out of work, you will definitely want an attorney talking with a judge about restructuring the order.
What Do Greeley Protection Orders / Restraining Orders Do?
In Greeley, Colorado, though Protection and Restraining Orders can differ slightly, depending on individual cases, they all share similar guidelines. The defendant will be made aware of all of this upon their arraignment or their first appearance before the court. But generally, if someone has a Protection Order against them:
Additionally, the court can add provisions to anyone's Protection Order if a judge deems it necessary. Judges are allowed to alter the Order by adding any and all of these provisions:
(b) An order to refrain from contact or direct or indirect communication with the alleged victim or witness (this means no third parties passing messages back and forth);
(c) An order prohibiting possession or control of firearms, other weapons or ammunition;
(d) An order prohibiting possession or consumption of alcohol or controlled substances;
(e) An order prohibiting the taking, transferring, concealing, harming, disposing of, or threatening to harm an animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by an alleged victim or witness; and
(f) Any other order the court deems appropriate to protect the safety of the alleged victim or witness.
If the Protection Order is violated, then you can be charged with a whole new crime, on top of whatever crime you're already facing. You would be charged with Crime of Violation of a Protection Order, C.R.S. 18-6-803.5, and could face an additional misdemeanor conviction and jail.
Criminal and Civil Protection / Restraining Orders
Criminal Protection Orders in Longmont and Milliken
Luckily, Criminal Protection Orders become invalid as soon as the case is completed. This means that when the case is dismissed, or when you have reached the end of your incarceration or you've finished your parole or probation, the Protection Order expires. Anyone who performs a background check will no longer be able to see that there was a Protection Order against you.
Erie and Dacono Civil Restraining Orders
Civil Restraining Orders in Erie and Dacono are more serious than their Criminal alternates. Civil Restraining Orders are permanent. They will also show up on any background check that someone does on you. This can affect your chances for employment, and even your reputation. Plus, you are not allowed to possess a firearm during this order’s effective dates. Contact our office and we can see if there is a deal to be made in your favor.
Dismissal or Modification of a Civil Restraining Order in Frederick and Lyons
If you have a Civil Restraining Order against you in Frederick or Lyons, don't worry too much! It is possible to have the Restraining Order dismissed completely or modified to better suit you! After 2 years since the order was made permanent, you are able to apply for it to be modified or dismissed. Though they are put in place initially with the intent of lasting forever, this is not always the case. Following a fairly predictable process, they can often be dismissed if you have obeyed the order and don’t have any new criminal history. It can sometimes be a difficult process, so you will want a skilled lawyer who can assist you in gaining back your clean background check.
