In this article, you can discover…
- The legal penalties for violating a protection order in Colorado.
- How violating a protection order can impact custody issues.
- Steps you can take to avoid the legal fallout from violating a protection order.
Is Violating A Protection Order In Colorado A Misdemeanor Or Felony Offense?
In Colorado, violating a protection order is a misdemeanor. However, if you commit a violation of a protection order as an act of domestic violence and have three or more prior domestic violence convictions, this can be charged as a “habitual domestic violence offense”, which is a felony.
If you are convicted of violating a protection order, a judge will determine your legal penalties. These could include going to jail for up to 364 days, considerable fines, or probation and required treatment classes.
Does A Protection Order Violation Stay On My Permanent Criminal Record In Colorado?
If you are convicted of violating a protection order, it becomes a part of your permanent criminal record in Colorado. However, if it is a non-domestic violence misdemeanor offense, you may petition to have that conviction sealed three years after the date your sentence is complete.
Will I Need To Appear In Court If Charged With Violating A Protection Order?
Yes, if you are charged with violating a protection order, you must appear in court. You will either be issued a summons to court or be arrested and given the opportunity to post bond. Once your bond is posted, you will be given a date on which you must return to court. You must continue to come to any further court dates handed down until your case is concluded.
Attorneys Jim and Christina Zorrilla are experienced, caring criminal defense attorneys serving Colorado. With over 20 years of combined experience, they have helped hundreds of clients just like you comply with protection orders and prevent the legal consequences of a violation.
Have questions, or in need of legal guidance? Reach out to The Zorrilla Law Firm for a free initial consultation today.
What Are The Long-Term Legal Consequences Of A Protection Order Violation?
If you are convicted of domestic violence as a part of your protection order violation, you may be prohibited from owning a firearm in the state of Colorado. In other cases, having a protection order violation on your criminal record can impact your future employment opportunities and access to housing, as it will appear on background checks.
How Might Violating A Protection Order Affect Custody Cases Or Immigration Status?
A conviction for violating a protection order can definitely impact a future custody case. In fact, it is very common for one party to file for protection orders while a divorce is going on. Violating that order could impact custody rulings significantly.
Alternatively, if you are an immigrant, a conviction may also impact your ability to contest deportation or seek citizenship in the future.
In either case, an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you get out in front of the situation and work with you to help minimize any potential consequences, ideally seeing your charges dropped.
Preventing A Legal Domino Effect After A Protection Order Is Issued
Violating a protection order can set off an unexpected and unpleasant legal chain of events, and it’s crucial to comply with the order. Even if you are falsely accused of assault or domestic violence, it’s important to speak with a lawyer to understand what the protection order says and what the document’s rules are.
It is crucial to err on the side of caution and make sure that you are not violating the protection order in any way. For example, if the protected party reaches out to you through text, you could be held legally accountable for violating the protection order simply for responding. Even though they initiated the contact, any response from you could violate the order and land you in serious legal trouble.
An attorney will help you understand the technicalities of the order so that you can protect yourself and prevent a legal domino effect from occurring.
Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?
For more information on Violating a protection order in Colorado, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (562) 715-3786 today.
Attorneys Jim and Christina Zorrilla are experienced, caring criminal defense attorneys serving Colorado. With over 20 years of combined experience, they have helped hundreds of clients just like you comply with protection orders and prevent the legal consequences of a violation.
Have questions, or in need of legal guidance? Reach out to The Zorrilla Law Firm for a free initial consultation today.