We have always felt that the law can be overly harsh and too broad for certain crimes – making someone face serious repercussions for not so serious actions. A go-to example for this is Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. As the law is currently written, a person can face 2 to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections on the class 4 felony crime for something like being out with a minor past the municipal curfew. That is no where near the same as taking a teen into a store and telling them what to steal or allowing a large house party where you provide drugs and alcohol to teens and someone ends up hurt. Yet, all these actions result in the same criminal charge. That is, until March of 2022, when a new misdemeanor reform goes into effect. This bill re-writes certain crimes to change the charge level or change the language of the law to clear things up or even make things more reasonable. Let’s look at a few of the changes that will go into effect next year.
New Misdemeanor Classifications: No More Class 3 Misdemeanors in Colorado
One big change is that there will no longer be three level of misdemeanor charges. Currently, you can be charged with a class 3, class 2, or class 2 misdemeanor. Under the new system, there will only be class 1 and class 2 misdemeanors. A class 1 misdemeanor is punishable by up to 364 days in the Larimer County Jail and not more than $1,000 in fines. The class 2 misdemeanor is punishable by up to 120 days in jail and up to $750 in fines. There will also no longer be class 1 and class 2 petty offenses. Instead, those crimes applicable will just be classified as a petty offense – punishable by up to 10 days in the Weld County Jail and up to $300 in fines.
Prostitution and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor: Misdemeanor Reform on These Crimes
As for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, there will now be a First Degree Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and a Second Degree Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. First Degree Contributing is charged when you encourage a child to violate a state law that is a felony victims rights act crime and remains a class 4 felony. Second Degree Contributing is a class 1 misdemeanor and is charged when you encourage a child to violate a felony (not victims rights act crime), municipal, state, or other misdemeanor law. Prostitution and Soliciting for Prostitution are no longer misdemeanor crimes, but will be charged as a petty offense.
If you or someone you love has been charged with a crime, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule a free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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