The criminal justice system is flawed, and it’s been proven that many who go to jail (or in this case, juvenile detention) end up committing more crimes in their lifetime. So a juvenile conviction can cast a very long shadow on a child’s life, and it can end up setting a path for them that may end in real jail time when they become an adult.

That’s why it’s so important to fight juvenile charges, even if you think it doesn’t matter because juvenile records get sealed when a child comes of age. What doesn’t get sealed are childhood experiences and memories: those will be with your child for the rest of their life.

The juvenile justice system often does children a disservice, so it’s very important that parents take every care to avoid getting a conviction for their child. Couple that with the emotional turmoil between parent and child, and you have a very highly-charged emotional situation.

Find a defense attorney who can help defuse that difficult situation and restore hope and health to your family.

But for some of us, traffic citations are more than just an every-now-and-then affair. Some people drive more recklessly than they should, and others are just unlucky.

Those citations, while individually they may not be very serious, can quickly add up to make life very difficult for you.

Every citation comes with at least a fine, but then beyond that fine, you’re likely looking at increased insurance rates, as well. If your offense is serious, you could be looking at educational classes, community service, license suspension, or even jail time.

That’s why it’s important to fight every citation in court, because the more citations you’re charged with, the worse the sentencing is going to be.

If you fight each citation as it happens, it makes it that much easier for you the next time you get charged with a traffic offense. If you ignore the citations until the potential sentence becomes serious, there’s only so much that even a talented lawyer can do for you.

Don’t wait to contact a skilled defense attorney, or it may be too late!

While a misdemeanor can potentially change your life, a felony absolutely will, with no question.

If you’re being charged with a felony, you should already know that you need a good defense attorney. But how do you decide which defense attorney to choose? All of them take felonies seriously, because they know what the punishment will be.

What you need is a defense attorney who is dedicated to being available whenever you need them, at any hour of the day, and someone who will give you the personalized attention that your unique case deserves. You need an attorney who understands that no two cases are the same, and that you’re a customer, not a criminal.

It also doesn’t hurt to find an attorney who’s so confident in their services that they’re willing to offer a free consultation so that you can see exactly how they operate.

Of course we’re talking about us, here at Ellman & Ellman, where we offer all of those things. We understand, though, that you may want to explore other options, but if you have a free consultation, we’re confident that you’ll choose us to defend you in the legal system!

But in reality, a misdemeanor can completely change your life. In many cases, it’s true that misdemeanors don’t face jail time, and are instead just faced with fines. However, it’s a mistake to think that that will always be the case.

Did you know that with a misdemeanor conviction, you can spend up to six months in jail? That’s enough time to completely ruin your life. You can lose your job, and with a criminal record it may be hard to find another one, not to mention having to pay the fine that the court has given you.

It’s not worth taking the chance.

If you find yourself being charged with a misdemeanor, you need to find the best defense attorney you can, and quickly. Even one conviction can stain your criminal record permanently.

Sometimes it’s the charges that aren’t taken seriously that are the ones that end up costing too much.

So whether you’ve been charged with a Class 1, 2, or 3 misdemeanor, you need a defense attorney who understands exactly how much a misdemeanor offense can change your life, and who will take that responsibility seriously. Don’t wait to find an attorney who will represent you to the best of their abilities!

Common types of Colorado theft include:

• Shoplifting
• Theft by receiving
• Theft by fraud and deceit
• Theft by writing a bad check
• Motor vehicle theft
• Identity theft
• Theft of rental property
• Theft of fuel
• Burglary
• Robbery

You may thing that a minor theft will result in just a slap on the wrist. In some cases, that may be true, however it is important to think about the long-term when facing a legal situation such as theft in Colorado. Most employers run a criminal background check before extending an offer of employment. A theft charge is a serious liability for any employer, and most often it will result in missing out on an opportunity for employment. In addition, it can be impossible to receive certain professional licenses with a theft conviction on your record.

If you have been arrested for any type of theft in Colorado, you need the help of an experienced Colorado theft attorney. With an attorney at your side, you will have the best possible chance of having the charges dropped. If the charges cannot be dismissed, your attorney will work to get you the least amount of penalties possible.

Tucked into this bill is a portion that would make installing ignition interlock devices on the vehicles of all people convicted of a DUI, even those with very low blood alcohol content readings. Currently, judges have the right to determine when these devices are needed, and are typically reserved for repeat offenders or those that had very high BACs.

The alcohol industry, along with many drivers, feel that that right should stay with the local jurisdiction, but supporters of the bill point to Colorado’s DUI fatality statistics to back their agenda.

In 2008, Colorado had 176 fatalities related to drunk drivers. That number decreased to 158 in 2010 and 127 in 2011. It is hard to say that the ignition interlock devices were the only reason for the decrease, especially when you consider that there have been major initiatives for education and prevention around the state during the same period of time.

Should the bill pass, the federal government would have control over what BAC constitutes use of the ignition interlock device. To offset the costs of implementing the program, the bill calls for a $25 million grant to the states for participation. In Colorado, the device is paid for by the offender. Many of those against the bill believe the cost of the device should be the burden of the offender, while supporters say that using tax dollars to pay for the devices is a safety worth paying for.

Colorado Law

Colorado law states that “any person under twenty-one years of age who possesses or consumes ethyl alcohol anywhere in the state of Colorado commits illegal possession or consumption of ethyl alcohol by an underage person.” And “A person has or holds any amount of ethyl alcohol anywhere on his person, or that a person owns or has custody of ethyl alcohol, or has ethyl alcohol within his immediate presence and control” is considered possession of alcohol. Of course, these charges combined with operating a motor vehicle can have devastating consequences.

If convicted of a Minor in Possession or Consumption of Alcohol charge, the minor can face the following penalties:

First Offense of MIP or MIC in Colorado

On the first offense of a MIP or MIC in Colorado, a fine of up to $250 can be issued. The underage person may be required to provide up to 24 hours of community service, and an alcohol evaluation and treatment plan may be required. The driver’s license of a first time offender may be revoked for up to three months.

Second Offense of MIP or MIC in Colorado

On the second offense of a MIP or MIC in Colorado, a fine of up to $500 can be issued. The underage person may be required to provide up to 24 hours of community service, and an alcohol evaluation and treatment plan may be required. The driver’s license of a first time offender may be revoked for up to six months.

Third Offense of MIP or MIC in Colorado

For the third, or subsequent, offenses the penalties become much more harsh. The third offense is a Class 2 Misdemeanor that can bring six to 18 months in jail, fines of up to $1,000 and loss of license for one year. In addition, alcohol assessments and treatment programs are almost always required and must be paid for by the individual.

The homes were found in Adams County, Weld County, Broomfield, Erie, Breckenridge and Denver. Multiple agencies were involved in the planning and investigations, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and local police forces. The North Metro task force was the head of the investigations.

Officers involved in the raid served search warrants at 25 houses, in addition to the sixteen arrests. Over 1,000 marijuana plants were confiscated. While police are stating that there is no link to the state’s medical marijuana system, some people are skeptical.

There are rumors that some of the arrested people may be medical marijuana caregivers. In Colorado, a medical marijuana caregiver is a small provider that serves approximately five patients at a time and grows the marijuana in the home. There is confusion surrounding the legalities and requirements for caregivers, and this confusion may put the providers in the cross hairs of the investigations.

More arrests are expected as the investigations unfold. If you or someone you care about is a medical marijuana caregiver and concerned about the current investigations in the Denver metro area, speak with an experienced Colorado criminal defense attorney to understand your rights.

You have no idea what someone may be accusing you of when the police approach you. It does not take a clear confession of a crime to be found as guilty and sentenced to jail time.  Police are trained in interrogation tactics that often build trust and rapport, making you think that you are not a suspect in the crime.  They often ask confusing questions that can paint you into a corner, making you appear guilty when you may not be.

The police officer often needs you to only say a few key words before you can be charged with a crime. Considering that you have no idea what those words may be, you cannot afford to take chances with any words at all. When approached by the police, simply refuse to speak to the officer until your attorney is present. You do, after all, have the right to remain silent.

If you fear you may be accused of a crime, or have had the police approach you, seek the help of an experience Colorado criminal defense attorney immediately. You cannot afford to be without representation. Attorneys know the games that are played during questioning, and can help you avoid making costly mistakes.

Colorado Domestic Violence Explained

In Colorado, domestic violence is not as cut and dry as it seems. Domestic violence cases often do not involve any physical harm. The law states that an act or threat to perform an act of violence with a person that is accused has been involved in an intimate relationship. An intimate relationship includes spouses, ex-spouses, unmarried couples past or present, or people that have had a child together, regardless of their current or past living arrangements.

You can also be accused of domestic violence if you commit a crime against person, property, or an animal as a method of threatening, intimidating, punishing or coercing someone that you have had an intimate relationship with in the past or present time.

Why You Need a Colorado Domestic Violence Attorney 

As you can see, domestic violence is a very broad term that can be applied to nearly any accusation involving a present or past person you have been involved with intimately. If you are facing a charge that involves someone that could be considered an intimate relationship, don’t take chances by going to court without an experienced Colorado domestic violence attorney on your side.