What follows is a reproduction of
the mandatory restraining order that you will be made to sign if you are charged
with domestic violence in the State of Colorado. The text is retyped from a
restraining order form in use as of June, 1997, by the Jefferson County Courts.
This same form is known to still be in use by most Colorado counties as of
August, 2000.
Limitations of HTML
prevent an exact reproduction of such features as boxes used to check what
applies. An underline __ is used instead.
Ordinarily you
will be held without bail until a hearing can be held before a magistrate, even
if that time exceeds 48 hours. By a hearing, what is meant is that you
enter a plea. They do not want to hear your side of the
incident. In fact, you are much better off to remain silent, just like in
the cop movies.
You will
be made to sign this restraining order before you are
released from custody C.R.S.
§ 16-4-103 (2). All of the boxes will be
checked before you are set free. You cannot be released, i.e., a summons issued
in lieu of arrest, at the scene of the alleged crime C.R.S.
§ 16-3-105.
__ District Court __
County Court, __________________ County, Colorado
Case No.
_____________________
MANDATORY
RESTRAINING ORDER PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-1-1001,
C.R.S.
The People of the State
of Colorado,
v.
____________________________________________,
Defendant
(date of birth:
_______________________).
To the above named
Defendant,
THE COURT FINDS it is
appropriate to issue this restraining order pursuant to Section
18-1-1001, C.R.S.
THEREFORE, IT IS
ORDERED THAT:
You, the defendant,
shall not harass, molest, intimidate, retaliate against, or tamper with any
witness to or victim of the acts you are charged with committing.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED
THAT:
__ You, the defendant,
shall vacate the home of the victim and stay away from any other location the
victim is likely to be found.
__ You, the defendant,
shall refrain from contacting or directly or indirectly communicating with the
victim.
__ You, the defendant,
shall not possess or control a firearm or other weapon.
__ You, the defendant,
shall not possess or consume alcoholic beverages or controlled substances.
__ IT IS FURTHER ORDERED
THAT: _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
The names and dates of
birth of the protected persons and any victims or witnesses are:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
This order remains in
effect until final disposition or further order of court.
___________________________
__________________________________
Date Defendant
___________________________
__________________________________
Date Judge/Magistrate
I certify that this is
a true and complete copy of the original order.
___________________________
__________________________________
Date Deputy Clerk
PLEASE NOTE: IMPORTANT
NOTICES FOR RESTRAINED PARTIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ON REVERSE.
JDF 440 5/96
Notes regarding
restraining orders:
1.Numbers given
refer to sections of the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.). Formerly, direct
links were provided to each statute but the legislative Web site for Colorado
statutes has changed four times in two years and it has proven impossible to
maintain individual links. Clicking on the C.R.S.
will take you to the State of Colorado Web sites and the link for the Colorado
Statute Manager. Search from there by word or the section number given.
2. The reverse side
of the restraining order has not been included here.
3. When charged with
domestic violence, arrest is mandatory C.R.S.
§ 16-3-105 (1.5) and C.R.S.
§ 18-6-803.6.
4. The police need
not obtain a warrant for your arrest under C.R.S.
§ 18-6-803.6 even if you are not present when they arrive and they
find you days later.
5. The police need
not witness any crime and may use hearsay to make a warrantless arrest and
search.
6. Without limit,
any other order the court deems appropriate to protect the safety of the
alleged victim may be imposed on you prior to a trial C.R.S.
§ 16-4-105. These may include, but are not limited to:
(I) Periodic
telephone contact with the defendant by the police or other agency. This is
very likely whether or not the court orders it.
(II) Periodic office
visits by the defendant to the pretrial services program.
(III) Periodic home
visits to the defendant's home (note that the defendant has probably been
ordered to vacate his "home" and may be living on the streets or, at
best, in a motel).
(IV) Periodic drug
testing of the defendant.
(V) Mental health or
substance abuse treatment for the defendant including residential treatment.
(VI) Domestic
violence counseling for the defendant.
(VII) Electronic
monitoring of the defendant.
(VIII) Pretrial work
release of the defendant.
Note that items (I)
through (VIII) are exactly the same as the likely punishment that will be
imposed if you are found guilty. Thus, you are presumed to be guilty and the
punishment precedes the trial. If you are found innocent you will already have
been punished. You will also be ordered to pay for your punishment whether or
not you are convicted.
7. Mediation of the
issues was expressly denied in 19-3-310.5 (II) for cases where domestic
violence is charged but that section was repealed effective July 1, 1999. We
are presently uncertain whether mediation can be requested or not in these
cases but it does not appear likely.
8. If you appeal for
any reason, the restraining order remains in effect until final disposition of
the appeal C.R.S.
§ 18-1-1001.
9. Last, but far
from least, from the time the restraining order is imposed until it is cleared
from all databases it is a violation of Federa l
law 18
U.S.C. § 922(g)(8 and 9) to purchase, acquire, or be in possession of
firearms or other dangerous weapons, e.g., swords, grenades, explosives,
ammunition, etc. This is a felony with a mandatory
minimimu of 5 years in prison if convicted.
Collectors items are
held to be in this category as well. "In possession" generally means
in the same room as, or in close proximity to. If you are visiting a friend
and they have a gun collection, you are in violation and could be sentenced to
five years (minimum) in prison.
Thus, if you have a
gun collection, swords, etc., have a friend or relative collect them for you
and remove them to storage in a place you do not have access to until after
you are sure the restraining order has been lifted and
your name removed from the state and federal databases. That will usually
require a separate motion to the court or personally carrying a copy of the
court order of dismissal to a Colorado Bureau of Investigation office.
As a safety measure
you should have a gun dealer run a check on you after the order is dismissed
to be absolutely sure your name has been removed from all databases.
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