Sentencing and policies regarding different crimes change and evolve for all kinds of reasons. New lawmakers, shifts in attitudes toward crimes, or even single events have all led to policy changes within the criminal justice system.

 

In Colorado, a single person recently became a catalyst for a big change in how sexual assault cases are handled. Who am I talking about? None other than Bill Cosby.

 

Most well-known

 

You might have seen on the news or in movies that a person has been charged with not just assault, but “aggravated assault.” This kind of charge definitely sounds more serious than a simple assault charge, but what does it mean? When is assault “aggravated?” How much more jail time does someone convicted of aggravated assault get?

 

We’ve got the basics for you.

 

Colorado and Aggravated Assault

 

When we talk about the sentencing guidelines for criminal offenses in Colorado, they’re just that – guidelines. Aggravating and mitigating factors, as well as the amount of charges and a judge’s own discretion, all work together as factors that make up the final sentence.

 

At the federal level, these rules are a little different. One of the biggest policies that affects sentencing at the federal level is mandatory

 

If you have been convicted of a DUI, you know firsthand that Colorado takes the offense very seriously and there can be harsh consequences for driving under the influence. So if you are caught driving under the influence again, you know what penalties you will receive and what to expect, right?

 

Not exactly. Like sentencing guidelines for most crimes, penalties get harsher depending on your criminal history. In

We get it – kids make mistakes. If your child has an arrest or conviction on their record, it does not mean they are a bad kid. They simply made a poor choice and ended up paying the price.

 

But now they have learned their lesson. And they’re ready to get an education or a job and move on: after all, they have their whole life ahead of them.