Here’s an immediate and closely relevant fact concerning family violence in Colorado: It’s a widely perceived universe.
That is, the range of activity that an alleged victim can cite as problematic, and the myriad types of criminal charges that can be levied against an accused offender, comprise a broad gamut of offenses.
Here are just a few:
- Assault causing bodily injury
- Acts perceived as menacing or threatening (even without physical contact)
- Child abuse or endangerment
- Stalking (including online behavior)
- Violation of a restraining order
In regard to that last entry, many Colorado residents likely know that a restraining order issued by a judge often features in a case where domestic violence is alleged.
In noting that, it is worthwhile to additionally note that not all restraining orders (also commonly referred to as protection orders) are the same.
A temporary restraining order (TRO) is often judicially issued when urgency seemingly demands it. An alleged victim obtains a TRO for a quite limited time, following which it either expires or can be extended through the issuance of a permanent restraining order.
A PRO will be issued — if at all — only following a hearing at which an accused party has the opportunity to contest a third party’s allegations.
There are other types of protection orders, as well, including EPOs, which are limited-duration orders granted in an emergency when courts are closed, and mandatory protection orders, with MPOs issuing automatically when an individual is charged on a criminal count.
The repercussions of a protective order to an accused individual can be flatly dire and long-lasting. Moreover, empirical evidence from many sources indicates that violence allegations are not always true, being sometimes made to obtain an advantage in a family law matter (e.g., a custody determination).
Whatever the circumstance, an accused person can benefit from the timely and on-point counsel of a proven criminal defense attorney aimed at fully probing all the material facts in a case and advocating diligently for a best-case outcome.