Criminal Defense in Colorado

Colorado classifies crimes into six felony classes and three misdemeanor classes plus petty offenses. The state reformed its sentencing laws through the 2019 Misdemeanor Reform Act, reducing penalties for many low-level offenses. Defense costs range $2,000-$5,000 for misdemeanors to $8,500-$50,000 for felonies. Colorado has deferred judgments allowing first-time offenders to avoid convictions after completing probation. Denver County Court handles misdemeanors while Denver District Court handles felonies. Colorado decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms (2022) following marijuana legalization. The state has active drug courts, mental health courts, and veterans courts offering alternative sentencing programs.