Criminal Law Lawyers in Lakewood

Criminal Defense in Lakewood, Colorado: courts, charges and diversion

A criminal charge in Lakewood can start in two systems. City ordinance violations go to Lakewood Municipal Court on South Allison Parkway, while state charges are filed at the Jefferson County Combined Court in Golden, part of Colorado's First Judicial District. County court handles misdemeanors and traffic offenses; district court hears felonies. People hire a defense lawyer to protect their record and license. This page lists 6 attorneys and law firms in Lakewood who handle criminal defense matters.

Charges with extra consequences

• Domestic violence. In Colorado, domestic violence is a label added to another offense, such as harassment or assault, when the act involves violence or threats against a current or former spouse, partner or co-parent, or when another crime is used to coerce, control, punish, intimidate or take revenge on that person. Officers must arrest on probable cause, a conviction requires court-ordered treatment, and the charge generally cannot be pleaded to an offense without the label.
• Protection orders. A mandatory protection order takes effect at arraignment or first appearance and lasts until final disposition, which can mean until the sentence, including probation, is complete. Violating it is a class 1 misdemeanor.
• Weapons. Possession of a weapon by a previous offender (POWPO) is a class 5 felony. Prohibited use of a weapon, such as aiming a firearm at someone or carrying one while intoxicated, is a class 1 misdemeanor.
• Sex offenses. A conviction for unlawful sexual behavior usually requires registration with local police or the sheriff.

DUI: the DMV deadline

If you receive a notice of revocation after a DUI arrest (for example, for a test of 0.08 or more or a refusal), you have 7 days from receiving it to request an Expressed Consent hearing with the Department of Revenue. If you don't, the revocation takes effect. This process is separate from the criminal case.

Alternatives to conviction

• Pretrial diversion. The district attorney can suspend prosecution for up to two years with no guilty plea; charges are dismissed with prejudice on completion.
• Pathways. The First Judicial District's adult diversion covers some low-level and drug charges, but not weapon, DUI or victim-rights offenses.
• Problem-solving courts. The district runs an Adult Recovery Court, an Adult Mental Health Court and a Veterans Treatment Court, among others.

This page is general information, not legal advice.

The same practice elsewhere in Colorado: Denver (21), Colorado Springs (12) and Boulder (7). Across Colorado the directory lists 58 attorneys in this practice; Lakewood is 4th by their number among 6 cities.