Prison sentences given to those convicted of felony crimes such as Second (2nd) Degree Assault (CRS 18-3-203), Third (3rd) Degree Arson (CRS 18-4-104), or Robbery (CRS 18-4-301) are different from jail sentences given for misdemeanor crimes committed in the Weld County cities of Greeley, Kearsey, and Milliken. The jail detention facility is very different from prison facilities, known as state penitentiaries or correctional facilities. Jails are meant to hold individuals for a short amount of time, either because they were convicted of a misdemeanor crime with a sentence of under a year, to hold them immediately after an arrest until they can post bond, or until sentenced to prison for a felony.
Prisons are equipped with many different programs to keep prisoners occupied. Prisons know convicted felons are usually held for years at a time, and it is important to keep their skill set on par with the rest of the working world and continue their education. There are also intense rehabilitation programs and therapy included in the prison experience.
According to the Colorado Department of Corrections, as many as 10% of the prison population in Colorado are involved in a gang. The Department of Corrections (DOC is the state office in charge of the 24 private and public state prisons across Colorado). Gang violence is a definite risk when entering a prison for any amount of time. While the DOC reports prisoners are technically allowed to be a part of or affiliated with a gang, they are not allowed to carry any type of papers which talk about gang bi-laws or other documents describing gang membership.
If contact by police regarding a felony charge in Weld County which might result in a prison sentence, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009. Together, we can protect your future.