Boulder Criminal Defense Blog

What should you know about the new Title IX sexual assault rules?

On behalf of Jurdem, LLC posted in defense for colorado university students on Tuesday, December 17, 2019.

The Department of Education is finalizing a new set of rules for Title IX concerns. When released, they could have a huge impact on students accused of sexual assault at the University of Colorado and other public schools.

According to The Washington Post, Title IX requires schools to investigate and act on reports of sexual misconduct. But the standards for Title IX investigations are different than for criminal trials. Under the old rules, students accused of misconduct often had limited rights, even though their cases could result in serious consequences. The new rules focus more on due process.

Can I really Smoke Pot on Probation With a Medical Card?

On behalf of Jurdem, LLC posted in Marijuana Charges on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

Years after legalization, Colorado is still working out some of the kinks with medical marijuana. A recent Colorado Supreme Court ruling clarified a 2015 law that allows the state's 80,000+ registered medical marijuana users to continue to medicate while serving a sentence to probation unless prohibiting continued use is necessary and appropriate to accomplish the goals of the being sentenced to probation in the first place.

Why you should think twice before paying a traffic ticket

On behalf of Jurdem, LLC posted in serious traffic tickets on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.

Nearly everyone exceeds the speed limit at some point. It's easy to press on the accelerator and go with the speed of traffic. Or to take your eye off the speedometer as you cruise along a twisty mountain road. But things change dramatically if an officer says your driving was careless or reckless.

Of course, each speeding ticket comes with a fine, and that tends to go up with the speedometer reading. However, other costs are less obvious. Some may surprise you, and they all get worse when you're faced with Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanor charges.

Could young adults soon be charged and tried as juveniles?

On behalf of Jurdem, LLC posted in defense for colorado university students on Tuesday, November 19, 2019.

Are university students adults? Or are they children? In the eyes of the law, college and university students are nearly all adults. With few exceptions, they're 18 years old or older, and that means they share all the same legal rights and responsibilities as their parents and other adults.

However, a new bill in the Colorado House of Representatives could challenge that fact. As CBS Denver reports, lawmakers have put forth a new bill that would allow young adults to be charged for some crimes as juveniles.

What are the hazing laws in Colorado?

On behalf of Jurdem, LLC posted in defense for colorado university students on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

Fraternities and sororities have a lot going for them. They provide an instant social network. Members can typically lean on each other for academic support.

There are community service opportunities, leadership opportunities and promises of future professional networking. There are also parties which can lead to allegations of hazing.

Lifetime Supervision of Sex Offenders - What It Means In Practice

On behalf of Jurdem, LLC posted in Sex Crimes on Wednesday, October 23, 2019.

In Colorado, sex offenders are sentenced pursuant to the Lifetime Supervision Of Sex Offenders Act. A person convicted and sentenced to the Department Of Corrections under the Act receives what is called an indeterminate sentence. This means at the time they are sentenced, no date is set for their release. The person receives a minimum sentence with a set number of years and can be held "up to a maximum of the sex offender's natural life."

Almost 1800 people in Colorado have been sentenced this way from "x years to life." In one of the more egregious cases a person sentenced " two years to life" served over 18 years in the Department of Corrections. Currently, approximately 26% of the inmate population are classified S5 which indicates the person has a sex offense.

The Legal Cannabis Conundrum

On behalf of Jurdem, LLC posted in Drug Charges on Monday, October 21, 2019.

Recreational marijuana use is currently legal in eleven states and Washington, DC, with 33 states making medical cannabis lawful. Others are lining up to pass similar laws. Yet, as the numbers increase, so does the number of arrests for possession of the drug.

A Pew Research Center poll revealed 62 percent of Americans supported legalized marijuana. The statistic included almost three-quarters of millennials who are onboard with lawful cannabis.

Responding To Road Rage

On behalf of Jurdem, LLC posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, September 6, 2019.

As the metro area continues to grow and road construction struggles to keep up with the increase in traffic, "road rage" incidents have become increasingly common. As traffic slows and tempers flare, it is important to know the steps that you should take as the victim of an aggressive driver and the risks you face should you be the one to lose your cool.

When faced with an aggressive driver, the best option is always to take steps to disengage and if necessary, call the police. If there has been an accident, make sure to get the other driver's license plate (if possible, take a picture of them and the car) and remain in your vehicle until law enforcement arrives. If the other driver takes off, do not follow them and remain on scene to provide the police with any information you were able to obtain. Following a driver will expose you to more dangerous driving and cause an already volatile situation to escalate quickly.

Junk Science In Court

On behalf of Jurdem, LLC posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.

"Junk science" isn't limited to the non-FDA approved supplements that claim one drop of their magical secret formula will make you bigger, stronger, faster, taller, smarter, and happier. As it turns out, much of the police work on shows like "CSI" has about as much validated scientific research behind it as the latest too-good-to-be-true scientific breakthrough to hit the late-night TV informercial circuit.

The most recent example of made-for-tv forensic evidence that has failed to meet scientific rigor is "toolmark" evidence. That is, the idea that it is possible to see the marks that something like a wire cutter left on a wire and say definitively that the wire must have be cut by the wire cutter found in the defendant's garage by a comparison of the two.

Understanding Minor In Possession Laws

On behalf of Jurdem, LLC posted in CU Students on Friday, August 30, 2019.

For many college students, a "Minor in Possession" charge is their first- and hopefully only- foray into the world of a criminal defendant. While a first offense often has limited repercussions, it is important to know the laws surrounding underage alcohol and marijuana possession and use to avoid the risk of more serious consequences.

When it comes to those under the age of 21, Colorado treats marijuana and alcohol the same, with one exception: the law does not apply to those under 21 with a medical marijuana card. A minor found to have consumed alcohol or marijuana or be in possession of alcohol, marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia faces an unclassified petty offense and may be fined up to $100 with a $25 surcharge and ordered to complete a substance abuse education course. A first offense is automatically sealed from your criminal record if the charge is dismissed, including a dismissal through a diversion agreement or completion of a deferred judgement, or upon payment of any fine and completion of any court-ordered substance abuse education.