Facing a criminal charge in Colorado

Bond and pretrial release in Colorado

Article II Section 19 of the Colorado Constitution makes most offenses bailable, with narrow exceptions for capital offenses and certain violent crimes where proof is evident or presumption great. C.R.S. Sec. 16-4-103 directs courts to order the least restrictive bond and conditions that will reasonably assure appearance and protect public safety. Bond types under Sec. 16-4-104 include personal recognizance, unsecured personal recognizance, secured by cash or property, and surety. C.R.S. Sec. 16-4-107 provides for prompt bond review hearings. Colorado eliminated cash-only bonds for most low-level offenses under SB 21-273 (effective 2021), which created a presumption of release on personal recognizance for most petty offenses, traffic offenses, and class 3 misdemeanors.

Bond amounts, conditions, and timelines vary by county and judge. Confirm with counsel or the court.

Criminal defense attorneys serving Colorado

Our directory is still building in Colorado. Public-defender intake is available now.

Record clearing in Colorado

Colorado criminal-record sealing is governed by C.R.S. 24-72-701 through 24-72-710. The Clean Slate Act (SB 22-099, effective 2024) phases in automatic sealing of eligible records, while petition-based sealing remains available for matters the automatic process does not cover. The statute provides offense-tied waiting periods of one to five years for petty offenses and misdemeanors and three to five years for eligible felonies; class 1, 2, and 3 felonies, sex offenses, domestic violence convictions, and certain DUI offenses are excluded. The petition is filed in the district court of the county of conviction.

Eligibility, waiting periods, and the petition vs. automatic pathway depend on the conviction class and the date of the offense. Confirm with counsel or the court record.

Public defender intake in Colorado

Office of the Colorado State Public Defender serves STATEWIDE County. Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. We do not refer you to a specific public defender and we do not represent you.

Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. LawSensai does not refer you to a public defender and does not represent you. This packet is a courtesy summary you can share with your public defender or their intake staff. You remain responsible for applying to the court for appointed counsel.