A new bill is making its way through the legislature that may significantly change the way that those convicted of habitual domestic violence or felony stalking are treated by the court. The bill is part of a response to public outrage after a woman who filed a restraining order against her former boyfriend was later killed by him.
The Colorado Springs woman who was killed had filed charges against the man, which resulted in a felony stalking conviction. However, the man went to great lengths to retaliate, cutting off his ankle monitor in order to dodge his sentencing hearing, and then killing a man to take his truck before driving to his former girlfriend’s house and shooting her.
The bill is popular among victims rights advocates, who claim that those who have demonstrated a tendency toward violent behavior should not be allowed to remain free until they are sentenced.
It remains to be seen how far-reaching the legislation will be in its scope. While certainly no one wants to see innocent people come to harm that could have been prevented, it is also uncertain if the current public outrage will create a legal basis for unfairly restricting the rights of those who may not be violent offenders, but face unfair charges.
It is important to have excellent representation if you are facing criminal charges. With proper legal counsel, you can ensure that you are not counted among dangerous criminals, especially if your charges are erroneous or exaggerated. An experienced attorney will fight to protect your rights and see that your case is heard fairly.
Source: Denver Post, “Colorado woman’s slaying prompts bill to keep felony stalkers, domestic violence offenders behind bars,” Jesse Paul, March 01, 2017