Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed House Bill 1150 into law the first week of May this year. Both the Colorado House and Senate had voted unanimously to pass the bill.
The law now prohibits judges from granting bail for those people who are convicted of domestic violence or felony stalking and awaiting sentencing.
Republican Representative Clarice Navarro sponsored the bill. She said that in many cases, it could be six weeks between an offender being convicted and when he or she is sentenced. She said, “This new law will be a sigh of relief to many victims who, after enduring the stress of a criminal trial, won’t have to fear retaliation from their attacker.”
Prior to the new law, a judge would have a choice in granting bail after a conviction in domestic violence and felony stalking cases.
The new, tougher law will become effective in August.
There has been much more attention paid to domestic violence cases in recent years. Those accused of domestic violence crimes can find themselves in the midst of “he said/she said” testimonies at trial. An experienced attorney is needed to build a strong defense case against domestic violence and felony stalking charged in Colorado.
Domestic violence charges can have a significant negative effect on your life. From your work to your personal life, the ramifications can be very serious. You may be served with a protection order that keeps you away from your spouse and children. If you are in the middle of a divorce, these charges can sway a judge in custody matters. These are just a few of the reasons why it is so important to present a strong defense.
Source: The Pueblo Chieftain, “Tougher Colorado law signed on bail in domestic violence cases,” Peter Roper, May 04, 2017
