Arrested in Colorado: What Now?

Any criminal arrest is serious and could have serious long term ramifications that impact your life. Some of these include; obtaining employment, job termination, license restriction, and police search conditions. Your first order of business is to obtain legal counsel that clearly understands your legal predicament.

I understand these ramifications. I understand them because I practiced trial law all day, every day for over 13 years in the courtrooms of Colorado as a Senior Career Trial Deputy District Attorney and the last 13 years as a criminal defense attorney for a combined experience levelof over 42 years.

I have not only practiced different approaches, but I am thoroughly networked in the local legal community. This provides me with access to additional informational resources to better prepare your case and to enhance the chances of a favorable resolution of your Felony, Misdemeanor, Juvenile, Traffic or (DUI) arrest.

To successfully employ criminal defense tactics for your case action must often be taken promptly and specific rules must be followed.

Certain defense strategies are time sensitive and may no longer exist after a period of time. Favorable evidence critical to your defense, must be identified and located immediately.

A Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Rights

1. Call a lawyer immediately – he or she can intervene before charges are brought.
2. Do not discuss your case or sign a statement without an attorney present – it’s evidence that can be used against you.
3. Do not enter a plea without first obtaining legal advice – even for a minor offense.

A Lawyer Can Also Help

1. you tell your side of the story. If presented with skill and sensitivity at the right time, this can result in reduced or dropped charges.
2. you get out of jail with a bail reduction or a personal recognizance “PR” release bond.
3. reduce penalties, fines, jail time, terms of probation and can request alternatives to probation.
4. a lawyer can petition to clear your record.

Recap

There are certain things you should and should not do if you are arrested.

• DO NOT make statements to the law enforcement officer in the belief that if you cooperate the officer will let you go (it is already to late once an arrest has occurred).
• DO speak only with your attorney about the matter – do not discuss it with anyone else
• DO NOT answer questions asked by law enforcement officers or other officers of the court, unless advised to do so by your attorney
• DO have your attorney present during any lineup or administration of a test (such as drawing a blood sample for further testing)

DO be polite to law enforcement personnel; they can make a bad situation worse if you make them mad at you.

The information in the above pages ( see also – Your Rights ) is designed to provide you with some basic information so that you can understand some of what is happening, or is going to happen, following your arrest.

This information should only serve as a reference point to examine the level of knowledge of other attorneys during your investigation and selection of counsel stage.