HB 25-1148

House Bill 25-1148, which has been signed into law in Colorado, aims to clarify and limit the scope of criminal protection orders. It specifies that these orders can only protect victims or witnesses involved in specific cases and cannot enforce bond conditions unrelated to their safety. The bill also mandates that courts inform defendants about potential penalties for violating a protection order, including misdemeanor charges and possible felony charges if the violation involves intimidating or retaliating against a witness or victim. Additionally, it restricts alcohol and drug prohibitions in these orders unless there's clear evidence they're necessary for the safety of the involved parties. The law also limits consecutive sentencing for protection order violations to cases involving domestic violence or certain crimes listed under the "Victim Rights Act." This bill affects anyone involved in criminal proceedings where protection orders are issued, ensuring clearer guidelines and consequences related to these orders.

Official Summary

Under existing law, a person charged with a criminal offense is subject to a criminal protection order, which remains in effect until final disposition of the criminal action. The act: Prescribes what must be included in the standardized form for a criminal protection order; Limits a criminal protection order to orders for the protection of a witness to, or victim of, the acts charged and prohibits a court from including in a criminal protection order an order to enforce a mandated condition of bond or a condition of bond that assists in obtaining the appearance of the defendant in court or ensuring community safety; Requires a court to inform a defendant that a violation of a criminal protection order may constitute a misdemeanor offense of violation of a protection order and that conduct that violates the criminal protection order may constitute a felony offense of intimidating a witness or victim or retaliation against a witness or victim; Only allows a criminal protection order to prohibit possession or consumption of alcohol or controlled substances without a valid prescription when available information supports a sufficient nexus between that restriction and the safety of the alleged victim or witness; except that, in a case involving domestic violence or crimes listed in the "Victim Rights Act", the court may enter an order prohibiting possession or consumption of alcohol or controlled substances without a valid prescription if the court deems it appropriate for the safety of an alleged victim or witness; and Requires a court to review a criminal protection order at the time of sentencing or other resolution of the criminal case. Under existing law, a sentence for violating a protection order runs consecutively with any sentence imposed for the crime that gave rise to the protection order. The act limits this consecutive sentence provision to crimes involving domestic violence or crimes listed in the "Victim Rights Act". The act grants a peace officer discretion to arrest, seek a warrant to arrest, or issue a summons to a restrained person for violating, or attempting to violate, a protection order by possessing or consuming alcohol or controlled substances; violating a term included in the protection order to protect the protected person from imminent danger to life or health in cases that do not involve domestic violence or crimes listed in the "Victim Rights Act"; or failing to timely file a signed affidavit or written statement with the court as required by law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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