What is Domestic Violence in Colorado Springs

One of the questions I hear the most is “what is domestic violence in Colorado Springs?”

Domestic violence is a severe criminal offense in Colorado Springs; prosecutors aggressively seek convictions for individuals accused of violence or threats against spouses, intimate partners, and children. If found guilty, the consequences can be catastrophic, including a lengthy prison sentence.

Exactly what is domestic violence in Colorado Springs?

To understand what is domestic violence in Colorado Springs, you must first know that the “violence” that could result in criminal charges includes not only physical acts but threats as well.

Domestic violence can also include acts and threats against a property if the act is directed against an intimate partner as defined in Colorado’s primary domestic violence statute.

Domestic Violence as Defined in Colorado

Under that statute, C.R.S. § 18-6-800.3, “domestic violence” in Colorado means:

An act or threatened act of violence upon a person with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship. “Domestic violence” also includes any other crime against a person, or against property, including an animal, or any municipal ordinance violation against a person, or against property, including an animal, when used as a method of coercion, control, punishment, intimidation, or revenge directed against a person with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship.

Domestic Violence Involves “Intimate Relationships”

As set forth above, for an act to be considered domestic violence in Colorado Springs, it needs to be directed towards an individual with whom the accused has or has had an “intimate relationship.”

This means the Colorado Springs courts will consider domestic violence charges when the relationship is between

• Spouses
• Former spouses
• Past or present unmarried couples, or
• Persons who are both the parents of the same child regardless of whether the persons have been married or have lived together at any time.

Domestic Violence Involves Other Criminal Acts

Domestic violence charges are based on actions that are themselves separate criminal offenses, such as:

• Animal cruelty
• Arson
• Assault
• Burglary
• Child abuse
• Destruction of property/criminal mischief/disorderly conduct
• Disturbing the peace
• False imprisonment
• Harassment
• Kidnapping
• Menacing
• Murder
• Robbery
• Sexual assault/unlawful sexual contact
• Stalking
• Threats
• Trespassing
• Vehicle theft
• Violation of a protection order
• Wiretapping

So in a nutshell, the answer to the question “what is domestic violence in Colorado Springs?” here is:

When the above criminal acts are committed in the context of an “intimate relationship,” the criminal charges can be increased to include domestic violence.

False Allegations of Domestic Violence

The intense emotions, motivations, and relationships involved in domestic violence cases can lead to horrific acts and severe punishment for those found guilty.

But those same factors can also lead to false allegations of domestic violence.  The best Colorado Springs divorce attorneys in town see this all too often when a local couple is going through a divorce.

One report found that:

• About one-fourth of divorces in the U.S. involve an allegation of intimate partner violence.
• In about 70% of those cases, the allegation is deemed to be unnecessary or false.
• Each year, about 175,000 children are involved in a divorce with a false allegation of domestic violence.

Summary

This article answered the question “what is domestic violence in Colorado Springs?”  You now understand that many criminal charges can be upgraded to include domestic violence if the charges are in the context of an intimate relationship.

Whether in the context of divorce, assault or other domestic situation, and whether the allegations are fabricated or the result of a momentary lapse in judgment, you need to retain a domestic violence defense attorney in Colorado Springs as soon as possible. A conviction can destroy your family and cost you your future. Don’t attempt to face this ordeal alone.

Find more articles in our blog category about defending against domestic violence charges in Colorado.