Source: https://colorado-domestic-violence-lawyer.com/colorado_domestic_violence_defense_strategies/colorado-criminal-law-domestic-violence-convictions-custody-of-your-child.html
Timestamp: 2018-08-21 09:53:03
Document Index: 533400397

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 14', '§ 14', '§ 14', '§ 14', '§ 18', '§ 14']

Colorado Criminal Law -Domestic Violence Convictions & Custody Of Your Child - Denver Criminal Attorney Specializing in Domestic Violence Cases - Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer.
Colorado Criminal Law -Domestic Violence Convictions & Custody Of Your Child – False allegations of domestic violence and child abuse begin to make sense when they are made in the context of a family law battle for child custody rights.
This article addresses the common practice of making allegations of domestic violence when it is clear that a difficult battle for custody is in the offing.
Understanding the Colorado Best Interest Of The Child Law – Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. 14-10-124
Colorado’s “Best Interest of the Child Law (14-10-124 reprinted below) is a lengthy and complex law and a full review and analysis of the law would be impossible here.
However, some important points can be made in a summary format.
First, the law lists Domestic Violence as one of eleven “best interests” factors. In Colorado, joint custody is not awarded if the Court finds evidence of domestic violence unless the Court finds that the parties can make joint decisions in a safe manner with no physical confrontations.
Domestic Violence Is Also Called “Spousal Abuse”
Although the court is allowed to grant sole or joint custody, it will be assumed by a Judge that joint custody is not in the best interest of the child if there is a history of spouse abuse.. § 14-10-124(1.5)(b)(v).
Spouse abuse is defined as the proven threat of or infliction of physical pain or injury by a spouse on the other parent.
§ 14-10-124(4). A parent may object to visitation by the non-custodial parent if that parent has been convicted of any crime that includes an act of domestic violence that constitutes a potential threat or endangerment to the child.§ 14-10 129(3)(a).
Absence or Relocation
In Colorado a Judge is not permitted to consider a parent’s departure from the home to escape the abuse as contrary to the child’s best interest. § 14-10-124(4).
Custodial – Visitation Interference
Under Colorado law, It is a defense to the crime of “custodial interference” that the offender reasonably believed that his or her conduct was necessary to preserve the child from danger to his or her welfare. § 18-3-304(3). See my article on parental kidnapping.
The Right Of A Parent To Maintain Their Share Of “Parenting Time” Is Determined By This Law
Section 14-10-124(1.5)(a) lays out the factors that a Colorado Judge will use to limit or extend your right to see your child or children.
One of those criteria – or factors – is an accusation of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
Here is how the law defines domestic violence followed by the 11 factors that the Court uses:
The Right Of A Parent To Maintain Their Share Of “Decision Making” Is Determined By This Law
Decision Making – the right to determine your child’s future is controlled by C.R.S. 14-10-124(1.5)(b). This section outlines additional criteria, in addition to the criteria outlined above, for a Colorado Domestic Relations Judge to consider when determining parental decision-making responsibility:
Here is the law – read it carefully to understand how the Judge will make his or her decision on this critical aspect of parental rights:
Section 14-10-124(1.5)(b). – Allocation of Decision Making Responsibility.
The court, upon the motion of either party or its own motion, shall allocate the decision-making responsibilities between the parties based upon the best interests of the child.
In determining decision-making responsibility, the court may allocate the decision-making responsibility with respect to each issue affecting the child mutually between both parties or individually to one or the other party or any combination thereof.
When a claim of child abuse or neglect or domestic violence has been made to the court, or the court has reason to believe that a party has committed child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or sexual assault where there is also a claim that the child in question was conceived as a result of the sexual assault, prior to allocating decision-making responsibility, the court shall follow the provisions of subsection (4) of this section.
In determining the best interests of the child for purposes of allocating decision-making responsibilities, the court shall consider, in addition to the factors set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1.5), all relevant factors including (above):
As is clear from the laws outlined above – ANY allegation of domestic violence and/or child abuse will have an enormous impact on a Family Law Judge’s decisions regarding child custody, decision making and visitation.
Note: The Impact Of A Colorado Criminal Protective Order In A Criminal Domestic Violence Case
In Colorado, every criminal case implicates a mandatory restraining order/protection order (these are the same thing and are used interchangeably).Colorado Criminal Restraining Orders 18-1-1001
In ALL Colorado Domestic Violence Cases – the Judge WILL issue a protection order which will almost always contain the following orders:
Order you to immediately vacate your home if you live with the alleged victim;
Order you to stay away from any place the victim is likely to be, including her place of work or school;
Prohibit you from communicating directly or indirectly (through a third person) with the victim;
Prohibit you from possessing firearms, including hunting rifles, and any other type of weapon; and
Prohibit you from consuming or possessing alcohol.
The issuance of this criminal protection order will greatly impact your rights to obtain child custody and even the visitation of your child.
Some Quick Ways To Avoid Violating A Colorado Criminal Protection Order
If the so called “Protected Person” tries to contact you:
DO NOT engage or respond.
DO NOT respond to emails or texts.
DO save any evidence of the communication – (such as voice mail messages).
DO NOT answer if they call you.
DO NOT contact them if they call you or try to meet with you.
REMEMBER – that YOU are bound by the restraining order NOT the protected party – Don’t be lured into having contact with her if she initiates contact – she cannot give you authority to contact her – Only a Judge can do that.
REMEMBER – to be very careful – even if your children are not listed on the order – NOT to have contact with the protected party in an attempt to have contact with your children.
Summary and Conclusion – Colorado Criminal Law -Domestic Violence Convictions & Custody Of Your Child
If you are falsely accused in a Colorado Domestic Violence Crime and you have children – you can be assured that the criminal case will be used against you as described above. It is critically important to find an experienced Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney who will begin to defend your case immediately and that means coordinating the investigation and defense of your criminal with your Colorado Family Law lawyer.
The police often fail to speak to many potential witnesses and will assume your guilt. This is especially true in Colorado family violence cases. Our law firm will work closely with your Colorado Family Law Lawyer – to examine all of the evidence and all of the allegations carefully and provide a team based approach to mount an aggressive and successful defense .
What Follows Is The Key Law Referenced In This Article – Colorado’s The Best Interests Of The Child Law – 14-10-124
C.R.S. § 14-10-124 The Best Interests Of Child.
(a) Determination of parenting time. The court, upon the motion of either party or upon its own motion, may make provisions for parenting time that the court finds are in the child’s best interests unless the court finds, after a hearing, that parenting time by the party would endanger the child’s physical health or significantly impair the child’s emotional development. In addition to a finding that parenting time would endanger the child’s physical health or significantly impair the child’s emotional development, in any order imposing or continuing a parenting time restriction, the court shall enumerate the specific factual findings supporting the restriction and may enumerate the conditions that the restricted party could fulfill in order to seek modification in the parenting plan. When a claim of child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or sexual assault where there is also a claim that the child was conceived as a result of the sexual assault has been made to the court, or the court has reason to believe that a party has committed child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or sexual assault where there is also a claim that the child was conceived as a result of the sexual assault, prior to determining parenting time, the court shall follow the provisions of subsection (4) of this section.
(b) Allocation of decision-making responsibility. The court, upon the motion of either party or its own motion, shall allocate the decision-making responsibilities between the parties based upon the best interests of the child. In determining decision-making responsibility, the court may allocate the decision-making responsibility with respect to each issue affecting the child mutually between both parties or individually to one or the other party or any combination thereof. When a claim of child abuse or neglect or domestic violence has been made to the court, or the court has reason to believe that a party has committed child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or sexual assault where there is also a claim that the child in question was conceived as a result of the sexual assault, prior to allocating decision-making responsibility, the court shall follow the provisions of subsection (4) of this section.
Colorado Criminal Law -Domestic Violence Convictions & Custody Of Your Child
H. Michael works hard to get his clients the best possible results in and out of the courtroom. He has written, and continues to write, extensively on Colorado criminal law and he hopes this article helps you in some small way – Colorado Criminal Law -Domestic Violence Convictions & Custody Of Your Child.
False allegations of domestic violence and child abuse begin to make sense when they are made in the context of a family law battle for child custody rights.