According to Colorado Law, people
are prohibited to carry out physical actions of violence against other people
or properties under certain circumstances. In order for a particular act to
actually qualify as crime of domestic violence, there should be intimate
relationship between an aggressor and a victim, as defined by the statute.
Definition of domestic violence
Colorado Law defines domestic
violence as a threat or actual act of violence against an individual with whom
the dominant or aggressor individual has or had a close, intimate relationship.
The scope of domestic violence also includes other crimes or municipal
ordinance violations that are committed against any third party or any property
with the intention of control, coercion, punishment, revenge or intimidation
directed at an individual with whom an aggressor has or had a close, intimate
relationship. For instance, a person who damages personal property of an
ex-spouse as a form of intimidation is guilty of carry out a crime that
involves domestic violence.
A crime can be classified under
domestic violence only when there is an intimate relationship between two
individuals. An intimate relationship can be defined under the following terms:
- Former or current spouses;
- Former or current unmarried couples;
- Parents of same child whether or not they were ever married or stayed under the same roof
Behaviors that qualify as domestic violence
There are different kinds of
behaviors that qualify as domestic violence. These include the following:
• Calling names;
• Throwing things;
• Damaging property;
• Forcing sexual contact;
• Causing physically harm;
• Threatening to use weapons;
• Following or stalking behavior;
• Imposing threat to pets or animals;
• Harassing or threatening phone calls;
• Abuser threatening to self-abuse or self-injure;
• Threatening to sexually or physically abuse children;
• Sexually or physically abusing children within the household;
• Forcing the victim to stay within a closet, house, room, or some other location against will
• Throwing things;
• Damaging property;
• Forcing sexual contact;
• Causing physically harm;
• Threatening to use weapons;
• Following or stalking behavior;
• Imposing threat to pets or animals;
• Harassing or threatening phone calls;
• Abuser threatening to self-abuse or self-injure;
• Threatening to sexually or physically abuse children;
• Sexually or physically abusing children within the household;
• Forcing the victim to stay within a closet, house, room, or some other location against will
What is a domestic abuse protective order?
To prevent instances of domestic
abuse from occurring, a civil protective order is issued by a county, district,
juvenile, municipal or probate court. A protective order can restrain a
defendant from threatening, harming or getting into physical contact with a
protected person.
Penalties associated with domestic violence convictions
Domestic violence is not regarded
as a separate type of offense from underlying violence act. When a court finds
a defendant guilty of domestic violence, the defendant will be sentenced by the
court for the offense. However, the defendant will also be required to attend a
domestic violence treatment program as well as receive evaluation for the
treatment.
Importance of hiring a domestic violence lawyer
There are various aspects of
Colorado domestic violence law that you may not be fully aware of. For this
reason, it is always advisable to get in touch with a professional domestic violence lawyer in Denver who can advice you on your rights and legal options.
So whether you are accused of or have experienced domestic violence, a criminal defense attorney with experience in handling similar cases can help you out
with your needs.
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