Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Colorado DUI Laws to learn more.
Colorado DUI
Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Colorado DUI Laws to learn more.
Colorado In-Depth
It is normal to be frightened and overwhelmed following an arrest. Therefore our lawyers are devoted to demystifying major topics in Colorado criminal defense law.
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It depends on the case. The judge may either just extend the period of probation or else convict the defendant and remand him or her to jail.
A deferred judgment and sentence in Colorado (CRS 18-1.3-102) is a legal mechanism where a defendant can avoid a criminal conviction and sentence as long as he or she successfully completes probation. In short, it is like a legal mulligan where a defendant can get a clean slate as long as he or she completes some requirements first.
In Colorado, people eligible for deferred sentencing are usually first-time offenders facing low-level, non-violent charges such as public intoxication, traffic violations, and drug possession. It is rare for people with felony charges, DUI charges, or criminal histories to get a deferred sentence.
Ultimately, the judge in the case needs to approve a deferred sentencing deal. Depending on the case, the period of probation can last from six months to four years. And there are various conditions the judge may order the defendant to abide by. These may include:
Upon successful completion of a deferred judgment, the criminal charge will be dismissed. The defendant can also petition for a record seal right away. This way, the case will not show up on future background checks when the defendant applies for a job.
But if the defendant does not successfully complete the deferred judgment, the judge will impose consequences:
When a defendant violates a term of deferred sentencing, the repercussions can include everything from a slap on the wrist to jail.
If the only condition the defendant violated was not paying victim restitution, the judge can simply extend the length of the deferred sentence until the defendant is able to pay. The defendant can have up to an additional 182 days to complete payments.
But any other deferred sentencing violation can cause the judge to convict the defendant for the underlying offense and sentence him or her to jail as if the deferred sentence never existed. Furthermore, the defendant cannot elect to go to trial instead: Waiving the right to trial was a condition of accepting the deferred judgment to begin with.
In some cases, the judge may choose a middle ground where the deferred judgment continues but with harsher conditions. The judge may also extend the period of deferred judgment for up to two years and even impose a jail sentence of up to 90 days. Then if the defendant completes the probation without any more slip-ups, the charge would be dismissed.
Michael Becker has over a quarter-century's worth of experience as an attorney and more than 100 trials under his belt. He is a sought-after legal commentator and is licensed to practice law in Colorado, Nevada, California, and Florida.
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