Colorado Springs Criminal Defense Blog
Colorado Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Address Crime in Schools
In 2014, the Colorado Department of Education registered over 6,000 allegations involving drugs, nearly 4,000 alleged assaults, and about 700 allegations of dangerous weapons being found in the state’s public schools. Colorado law enforcement are required to report allegations of crime that they investigate in schools – but according to some Colorado lawmakers, those reports are not occurring as frequently as they should.
That’s why a few lawmakers are attempting to strengthen reporting requirements for schools through new laws introduced in recent months, according to a news report from CBS 4. According to lawmakers who support the new legislation, the rules passed in 2012 to require reporting are weak because they are unfunded and because there is no single, uniform reporting system. The proposed bills aim to change both circumstances in order to improve both the frequency and the quality of reports.
Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Colorado’s Appeal of DUI Blood Tests Without a Warrant
According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear an appeal from Colorado officials who are hoping to give authorities the right to take blood samples from suspected drunk drivers without first receiving permission or a warrant.
In 2013, Colorado officials argued that police officers should be able to draw blood samples from suspected drunk drivers without a warrant because the time it takes to get a warrant can interfere with the evidence. By the time the police have a warrant the suspect’s blood alcohol levels will have decreased.
County Prosecutors Ask U.S. Supreme Court to Review Colorado DUI Case
Prosecutors in Arapahoe County recently petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a driving under the influence (DUI) case heard by a state judge and reviewed by the Colorado Supreme Court, according to an article in the CT Post.
The case involves a 2012 traffic accident in which a driver was given a blood test without his consent and without the police first obtaining a warrant to draw the driver’s blood. The test results said that the driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
New Rule Could Push People Out of Colorado Springs After Repeated Arrests
Arrested on suspicion of solicitation, vagrancy, or trespassing in Colorado Springs? You might be prevented from returning to downtown for any reason under a new rule under consideration by the city, according to a recent article in the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Under the rule that may soon be enforced by Colorado Springs police, a person could be banned from the downtown area if they are arrested five times within eighteen months. The ban would be part of a deferred probation or suspended sentence if the arrested person is convicted.
How Might a Juvenile Be Sentenced to Jail in Colorado?
For many parents, their introduction to Colorado’s juvenile justice system begins when they hear that their child is in “detention” – often, for no more than a youthful prank gone awry. As they seek out the help of an experienced Colorado Springs juvenile defense attorney, many parents wonder: How will it end? Will the court find that my child has broken the law? And what will happen then?
Colorado Criminal Defense Attorneys Say: Don’t Restrain Children in Court
Colorado residents who watch crime dramas or news clips about criminal cases know that many adult defendants come into the courtroom wearing restraints – handcuffs or ankle shackles. But what they don’t know is that in many juvenile court cases, children as young as age 10 may appear before the judge in restraints as well. Public defenders and experienced Colorado juvenile defense attorneys throughout the state want that to change.
Criminal Defense Attorney Timothy Bussey Made Faculty Member of the National College of DUI Defense Foundation, Inc.
As an accomplished criminal defense attorney, a nationally published author, and a highly requested speaker in DUI defense law, Timothy Bussey of the Bussey Law Firm is proud to have become a faculty member of the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD).
Since 2006, Mr. Bussey has been an active member and Colorado State Delegate in the NCDD, which is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that strives to ensure that anyone accused of driving under the influence in the U.S. receives the effective legal assistance s/he needs, while also providing a valuable resource for practicing attorneys and public defenders. The NCDD is the only organization in the United States to be recognized by the American Bar Association and accredited to certify attorneys in the DUI Defense Law specialty area.
Top Five Terms You’ll Hear in a Colorado Juvenile Justice Proceeding
The juvenile justice system in Colorado works differently than the standard criminal justice system. It serves a different population – children – and it has different goals than the criminal justice system that adults face. As a result, it has its own set of words and phrases to describe the process.
Here are five terms you’ll likely hear in juvenile court and what they mean:
Crime Reports in Colorado Rose Slightly in 2013
News reports about the state of crime in Colorado since the passage of Colorado’s marijuana legalization measures have portrayed a state in which crime is down and tax revenues are up. In 2013, however, crime reports throughout the state rose slightly, according to a report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
According to the CBI report, crime reports rose 1.8 percent for all crimes over the 2012 total. The report includes the annual Crime Index, which tracks seven different criminal offenses. Because the same seven offenses are used from year to year, the index is often used to track fluctuations in their rate over time. Simple possession of marijuana is not one of the seven offenses included in the Crime Index.
What is the SR-22 Insurance Requirement after a Colorado DUI?
If your Colorado driver’s license has been suspended or revoked as a result of a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction or for another reason, the Motor Vehicle Division may require you to obtain an SR-22 insurance form in order to have your driving privileges restored to you.
The SR-22 is available from your auto insurance company. It is a rider that attaches to your insurance policy. It ensures that your insurance company will keep your car insurance in effect for a certain period of time.