Source: https://www.colorado-drug-crimes-lawyer.com/colorado-drug-crimes-sentencing-issues/colorados-mandatory-drug-crime-sentences
Timestamp: 2017-03-26 03:20:49
Document Index: 454489164

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 18', '§ 18', 'art 3', 'art 2', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 18']

Colorado's Drug Crime Laws - Mandatory Sentencing to Prison - Criminal Attorney Specializing in Drug Crimes Law in Denver, Colorado
Colorado Drug Laws: Mandatory Sentences to Prison Based on the Weight of Controlled Substances – “Sentence Enhancers”
Denver, Colorado Drug Crimes Criminal Defense Lawyer – H. Michael Steinberg
Colorado Law contains a statute that makes mandatory prison sentences, even for first time offenders. This law is being abused by prosecutors all over the state to “coerce” pleas to significant felonies – often destroying the accused’s future potential to live a successful life.
The law is found at Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) 18-18-405: The key provisions reads as follows: (the balance of the statute and other Colorado mandatory drug laws appear at the end of this article below)
(I) At least twenty-five grams or one ounce but less than four hundred fifty grams of any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contains a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance as listed in section 18-18-203 or 18-18-204 shall be sentenced to the department of corrections for at least the minimum term of incarceration in the presumptive range provided for such offense in section 18-1.3-401(1) (a) with regard to offenses other than manufacturing, dispensing, selling, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, and for at least the minimum term of incarceration in the presumptive range provided for such offense in section 18-1.3-401(1) (a) as modified pursuant to section 18-1.3-401(10) with regard to manufacturing, dispensing, selling, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute;
(II) At least four hundred fifty grams or one pound but less than one thousand grams of any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contains a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance as listed in section 18-18-203 or 18-18-204 shall be sentenced to the department of corrections for a term of at least the midpoint of the presumptive range but not more than twice the maximum presumptive range provided for such offense in section 18-1.3-401(1) (a) with regard to offenses other than manufacturing, dispensing, selling, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, and for a term of at least the midpoint of the presumptive range but not more than twice the maximum presumptive range provided for such offense in section 18-1.3-401(1) (a) as modified pursuant to section 18-1.3-401(10) with regard to manufacturing, dispensing, selling, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute;
(III) One thousand grams or one kilogram or more of any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contains a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance as listed in section 18-18-203 or 18-18-204 shall be sentenced to the department of corrections for a term greater than the maximum presumptive range but not more than twice the maximum presumptive range provided for such offense in section 18-1.3-401(1) (a) with regard to offenses other than manufacturing, dispensing, selling, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, and for a term greater than the maximum presumptive range but not more than twice the maximum presumptive range provided for such offense in section 18-1.3-401(1) (a) as modified pursuant to section 18-1.3-401(10) with regard to manufacturing, dispensing, selling, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute.
(b) In addition to any other penalty imposed under this subsection (3), upon conviction, a person who violates this subsection (3) shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars but not more than five hundred thousand dollars. For offenses committed on or after July 1, 1985, the fine shall be in an amount within the presumptive range set out in section 18-1.3-401(1) (a) (III).
(3.5) The felony offense of unlawfully manufacturing, dispensing, selling, distributing, or possessing with intent to unlawfully manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute a controlled substance is an extraordinary risk crime that is subject to the modified presumptive sentencing range specified in section 18-1.3-401(10).
(7) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, and except as otherwise provided in sub-subparagraph (B) of subparagraph (I) of paragraph (a) of subsection (2) or paragraph (a) of subsection (2.5) of this section, a person who violates subsection (1) of this section by selling, dispensing, or distributing a controlled substance other than marijuana or marijuana concentrate to a minor under eighteen years of age and who is at least eighteen years of age and at least two years older than the minor commits a class 3 felony and, unless a greater sentence is provided under any other statute, shall be sentenced to the department of corrections for a term of at least the minimum, but not more than twice the maximum, of the presumptive range provided for such offense in section 18-1.3-401 (1) (a) as modified pursuant to section 18-1.3-401 (10)
What are Mandatory Drug Crime Sentences?
A judge traditionally has the right to weigh all the facts of a case when determining an offender’s sentence. In the 1970s and 1980s, the U.S. Congress and many state legislatures passed laws that force judges to give fixed prison terms to those convicted of specific crimes, most often drug offenses.
The belief was that harsh, inflexible sentences would catch those at the highest levels of the drug trade and deter others from entering it. It has the opposite effect and the country’s prisons are overpopulated by low level drug users.
Mandatory sentencing laws fail to deter people from using or selling drugs: drugs are cheaper, purer and more easily obtainable than ever before.
What’s Wrong With Mandatory Drug Crime Sentences?
1. Judges can’t consider the facts of each case. 2. The type and weight of a drug primarily determines sentence length. 3. They remove checks and balances. 4. They encourage and reward those who inform on others. 5. Conspiracy laws make those at the top of the drug trade and low-level offenders equally culpable. 6. Low-level offenders often get longer sentences than high-level dealers.
Some Relevant Laws in Colorado
§ 18-18-409. Reduction or Suspension of Sentence for Providing Substantial Assistance (Assisting the DA)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the district attorney may request the sentencing court to reduce or suspend the sentence of any individual who is convicted of a violation of section 18-18-405 or 18-18-407(1) (e) and who provides substantial assistance in the identification, arrest, or conviction of any person for a violation of this article. Upon good cause shown, the request may be filed and heard in camera. The judge hearing the motion may reduce or suspend the sentence if the judge finds that the assistance rendered was substantial.
§ 18-18-407. Special Offender
(g) The defendant solicited, induced, encouraged, intimidated, employed, hired, or procured a child, as defined in section 19-1-103(18), C.R.S., to act as his agent to assist in the unlawful distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, sale, or possession for the purposes of sale of any controlled substance in violation of section 18-18-405. It shall not be a defense under this paragraph (g) that the defendant did not know the age of any such individual.
(1) (a) Except as authorized by part 3 of article 22 of title 12, C.R.S., or by part 2 or 3 of this article, it is unlawful for any person knowingly to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, or to possess with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, a controlled substance; or induce, attempt to induce, or conspire with one or more other persons, to manufacture, dispense, sell, distribute, or possess with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, a controlled substance; or possess one or more chemicals or supplies or equipment with intent to manufacture a controlled substance.
(b) As used in this subsection (1), “dispense” does not include labeling, as defined in section 12-22-102(16), C.R.S.
(2.3) (a) [Deleted by 2010 amendment.]
The Most Serious Special Offender Laws:
Under sections 18-18-405(1)(a), (2)(a)(I)(A), and (3)(a)(III), C.R.S.2007, a special offender is defined as one who ” unlawfully introduced, distributed, or imported into the state of Colorado any schedule I or II controlled substance.” § 18-18-407(1)(d). The sentencing range for a special offender is ” at least the minimum term of years within the presumptive range for a class 2 felony but not more than twice the maximum term of years within the presumptive range for a class 2 felony.” § 18-18-407(1). The presumptive sentencing range for a class 2 felony is eight to twenty-four years. § 18-1.3-401(1)(a)(V)(A), C.R.S.2007. Therefore, defendant’s sentencing range under this regimen was eight to forty-eight years