Criminal Restraining Order
5 Things to Know About Protection Orders in Weld County

Facing a Criminal Restraining or Mandatory Protection Order in Greeley or Weld County? Call the O’Malley Law Office today at 970-616-6009.

A Criminal Restraining Order or Mandatory Protection Order, is issued in Weld County when you commit a crime against someone.  Generally, this prevents you from going near or having any contact with the “victim” of your crime. If that person works where you work, or lives near you, a judge might order you to live somewhere else or quit your job. This type of order is similar with, but different than a Civil Restraining Order which you can read about here.

1.Defintion of A Criminal Restraining Order, C.R.S. 18-1-1001, in Greeley, Colorado

In Greeley, a Criminal Restraining Order, C.R.S. 18-1-1001, is defined as:

There is hereby created a mandatory protection order against any person charged with a violation of any of the provisions of this title (Title 18 of the criminal code), which order shall remain in effect from the time that the person is advised of his or her rights at arraignment or the person’s first appearance before the court and informed of such order until final disposition of the action. Such order shall restrain the person charged from harassing, molesting, intimidating, retaliating against, or tampering with any witness to or victim of the acts charged. The protection order issued pursuant to this section shall be on a standardized form prescribed by the judicial department and a copy shall be provided to the protected parties.

2.When is a Mandatory Protection Order or Criminal Restraining Order Issued in Weld County?

When a criminal charge is made and there is a “victim,” a Mandatory Protection Order or Criminal Restraining Order is issued. The Order is given at your first court appearance and will remain until the case is completely resolved.  If you must serve a sentence in jail, prison or on probation, the Order remains in effect. These Orders are used to protect a “victim” or witness to a crime from being harmed, harassed or influenced by the alleged offender. It is important to remember that if you are under one of these orders, you are not allowed to contact the “victim” in any way, even if they say that it is okay. 3rd party messages you may send through another person will also violate this Order.

3.Violating a Mandatory Protection Order in Greeley, Colorado Penalties and Sentence

In Greeley, Colorado, there are several consequences that can happen when a Mandatory Protection Order is violated. These include: an additional criminal charge of Violation of a Protection Order, possible violation of bail, and additional Weld County Jail time to serve. If you are found to have violated a Mandatory Protection Order, you can be faced with a class 1 misdemeanor which carries penalties of up to 18 months in Weld County Jail and up to $5,000 in fines. This is in addition to any sentence and penalty from the original crime.

4.What Contact is Not Allowed When Facing a Criminal Restraining Order in Weld County

When a defendant is facing Criminal Restraining Order in Weld County, absolutely no contact of any type is allowed. You cannot send a note, an apology, a text, a phone call, a social media message or a message through a friend. If the Criminal Restraining Order is issued because of Domestic Violence, the requirements will be the harshest. This includes preventing you from contacting victim, children, relatives, being near the family home, using drugs, alcohol, or being in possession of firearms or even ammunition.

5.In Greeley, Colorado, Can Requirements or Terms of a Mandatory Protection Order Be Changed?

With Greeley’s leading lawyers helping you navigate the court system, terms of a Mandatory Protection Order may be altered or possibly dismissed. This process is done through a formal request and until a change is finalized by a judge, the original requirements of the Order need to be followed.

Facing a Criminal Restraining or Mandatory Protection Order in Greeley or Weld County? Call the O’Malley Law Office today at 970-616-6009 to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney in the Greeley and Weld County area. Let us help you understand the requirements of an Order and fight for the best outcome in your case. Together, we can protect your future.

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