Colorado Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Colorado criminal defense attorneys who understand the state’s six-class felony scheme, mandatory minimums for crimes of violence, and the broadened record-sealing pathway under the Clean Slate Act (HB 22-1326). Whether your case is in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Aurora, or anywhere across the Front Range or Western Slope, we’ll match you with the right attorney — at no cost to get started.

No. Politely decline and ask for a lawyer. Colorado law enforcement — Denver PD, Colorado State Patrol, sheriffs’ deputies — use sophisticated interrogation techniques. Anything you say can be used at trial. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and your right to counsel under Miranda and Colorado v. Spring.

Yes. Colorado misdemeanors (HB 21-1209 restructured them) carry up to 364 days in county jail for Class 1 misdemeanors and up to $1,000 fines. Many county and city courts offer diversion programs that can be negotiated to keep your record clean. Convictions trigger collateral consequences including federal firearm bans for DV offenses under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9).

State cases go through Colorado District Court (felonies and Class 1 misdemeanors) or County Court (other misdemeanors and traffic). Federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (Denver, with divisions in Grand Junction and Durango) and follow the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal drug trafficking on I-25 and I-70, federal firearms charges, and federal land offenses in Colorado’s national forests and parks are common.

Colorado plea agreements under Crim. P. 11 are negotiated between the DA and defense. Pleas can include charge reductions, deferred judgment (C.R.S. § 18-1.3-102), deferred prosecution (C.R.S. § 18-1.3-101), or stipulated sentences. The court must accept the plea, but most Colorado judges follow agreed-upon recommendations. Deferred judgment is particularly valuable — successful completion means the case is dismissed and can later be sealed.

Yes — and Colorado’s pathways recently expanded significantly. The Clean Slate Act (HB 22-1326, 2022) provides automatic sealing of many misdemeanor and Class 4/5/6 felony convictions after waiting periods (4 to 7 years post-completion). Petition-based sealing under C.R.S. § 24-72-705 (non-convictions) and § 24-72-706 (convictions) covers others. Class 1-3 felonies, DV offenses, sex offenses, and certain DUI offenses have stricter limits.

Colorado handles juveniles under 18 (with some 10- and 11-year-olds excluded from delinquency under HB 22-1003) in juvenile court under C.R.S. § 19-2.5-101 et seq. Direct file is restricted — most transfers to adult court require judicial transfer hearings. Juvenile records can be expunged under C.R.S. § 19-1-306 — Colorado has one of the better juvenile expungement statutes in the country.

Colorado DUI under C.R.S. § 42-4-1301 uses .08 BAC; .05 BAC presumes DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired, a lesser offense unique to Colorado). Commercial CDL is .04, under-21 is .02. Express consent statute (C.R.S. § 42-4-1301.1) applies — refusal triggers automatic 1-year license revocation. Felony DUI is the fourth DUI offense (C.R.S. § 42-4-1301(1)(a)) as a Class 4 felony. Ignition interlock required for most DUIs.

Why Do You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney in Colorado?

Colorado grades felonies in six classes (Class 1 through Class 6) under C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401, with Class 1 felonies carrying life imprisonment and Class 6 felonies carrying 12 to 18 months presumptive. Crimes of violence (C.R.S. § 18-1.3-406) carry mandatory aggravated-range sentences and require at least the midpoint of the aggravated range. Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012 (Amendment 64) and adults 21+ can possess up to 1 ounce. The state passed comprehensive bail reform in 2021 (HB 21-1280) eliminating cash bail for many low-level offenses. Colorado’s Clean Slate Act (HB 22-1326, 2022, codified at C.R.S. § 24-72-701 et seq.) expanded automatic and petition-based record sealing — including automatic sealing of many misdemeanor and lower-level felony convictions. Colorado plea-bargaining culture varies between the Denver metro, the I-25 corridor, the mountain communities, and rural districts.

When Do You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney in Colorado?

Our network includes Colorado criminal defense attorneys who handle every kind of case, including:

Types of Criminal Defense Cases in Colorado

From the moment you connect with a Colorado criminal defense attorney, they go to work protecting your claim. The most common case types we handle:

Talking to Colorado police, CSP, or sheriffs without an attorney

Consenting to a search of your home, car, or phone when officers ask

Missing a Colorado court date — bench warrants and bond forfeiture follow immediately

Posting about the case on social media — Colorado DAs subpoena platforms routinely

Deleting messages or photos from your phone — tampering with physical evidence (C.R.S. § 18-8-610) is a Class 6 felony

Accepting the DA’s first plea offer without exploring deferred judgment, diversion, or Class-reduction

Talking to Colorado police, CSP, or sheriffs without an attorney

Consenting to a search of your home, car, or phone when officers ask

Missing a Colorado court date — bench warrants and bond forfeiture follow immediately

Posting about the case on social media — Colorado DAs subpoena platforms routinely

Deleting messages or photos from your phone — tampering with physical evidence (C.R.S. § 18-8-610) is a Class 6 felony

Accepting the DA’s first plea offer without exploring deferred judgment, diversion, or Class-reduction

Common Colorado Criminal Defense Mistakes

Even a small misstep can hurt your case. Here’s what to avoid:

How Much Do Colorado Criminal Defense Attorneys Cost?

Flat Fee

Most matters are billed as a flat fee per petition or filing — fee depends on case complexity.

Criminal defense attorneys in Colorado work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Colo. RPC 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (homicide, sex offenses with lifetime supervision, federal, multi-count) use hourly billing with substantial retainers. The Colorado Office of the State Public Defender represents indigent defendants statewide and is regarded as one of the strongest PD offices in the country.

What Can Your Colorado Criminal Defense Compensation Include?

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress (Crim. P. 41), insufficient evidence (Crim. P. 29), speedy trial violation (C.R.S. § 18-1-405 — 6-month rule), or DA dismissal in furtherance of justice.

Charge Reduction

Reduction from felony to misdemeanor, higher-class felony to lower-class. Removing crime-of-violence designation or habitual criminal enhancement allegations.

Deferred Judgment / Deferred Prosecution

Deferred judgment under C.R.S. § 18-1.3-102 — guilty plea is entered but withdrawn upon successful completion of probation; deferred prosecution under C.R.S. § 18-1.3-101. Both allow for sealing under Clean Slate.

Plea Agreement

Negotiated resolution under Crim. P. 11. Includes charge reductions, dismissed counts, stipulated sentences, and probation in lieu of incarceration.

Trial Acquittal

Not guilty verdict by Colorado jury or judge. Colorado criminal juries must be unanimous (6 jurors for misdemeanors, 12 for felonies under Colo. Const. Art. II, § 23).

Post-Conviction Relief

Colorado Crim. P. 35 motions — 35(a) illegal sentence, 35(b) sentence reduction, 35(c) post-conviction (including IAC and newly discovered evidence). Strict timing rules.

!!!

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Colorado Criminal Defense Attorneys

Why Do You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney in Colorado?

When Do You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney in Colorado?

Types of Criminal Defense Cases in Colorado

Common Colorado Criminal Defense Mistakes

How Much Do Colorado Criminal Defense Attorneys Cost?

What Can Your Colorado Criminal Defense Compensation Include?

Ready when you are.

Your help is just

a minute away.

Start your case

in minutes.