About Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior used to control individuals in an intimate relationship. Violence can include physical, emotional, sexual and/or financial abuse.

An honest answer to the following questions will help to determine if you are at risk:

Does Your Partner -

  • Embarrass or make fun of you in front of your friends or family?
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  • Use drugs or alcohol as an excuse for saying hurtful things or for abusing you?
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  • Threaten to hurt you, your children, pets, family members, friends or themselves?
    • 
  • Make you have sex or do things sexually that you don’t want to do?
    • 
  • Interrogate you intensely about whom you talked to and where you were; keeps all the money; insists you ask permission to go anywhere or do anything?
    • 
  • Treat you roughly – punch, shove, slap, bite, kick, choke or hit you; destroy personal property or throw things around?
    • 
  • Blame you for how they feel or act?

Do You -

  • Become quiet when your partner is around and feel afraid of making him/her angry?
    • 
  • Constantly make excuses to other people for your partner’s behavior?
    • 
  • Believe that you can help your partner change if only you changed something about yourself?
    • 
  • Feel like no matter what you do, your partner is never happy with you?
    • 
  • Stay with your partner because you are afraid of what your partner would do if you broke up?
    • 
  • Stop seeing your friends and family members?
    • 
  • Feel that you are becoming more and more isolated?
  • Find yourself explaining bruises to family or friends?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you may be in an abusive relationship.

 

Sexual Abuse

The batterer makes the victim do sexual things against their will or physically attacks the sexual parts of the victim’s body. It can include sexual exploitation, such as forcing someone to look at pornography.

Stalking

Stalking behavior includes repeated phone calls, following the victim. Stalkers may suddenly show up where the victim is- at home, school or work. They may send the victim emails or unwanted packages, cards, gifts, or letters. A batterer may also contact friends and family to gain more information on the victim. They may threaten to hurt the victim or their pet, family or friends.

Economic Abuse or Financial Abuse

The batterer keeps the victim from getting or keeping a job; makes them ask for money; gives the victim an allowance; or takes their money. They may also withhold physical resources such as food, clothes, necessary medications, or shelter from a partner.

Legal Protection - Court Process

The defendant will be advised of the charges against him/her at the Jefferson County Detention Facility. This hearing is called the Advisement. At this hearing, a Judge will set bond, conditions of the bond and issue a criminal protection order.

You have the right to give input to the Judge as he/she considers bond conditions and the protection order. If you would like to do this contact a VOI Advocate at (303-202-2196) or the DA’s Victim/Witness Unit at (303-271-6550).

Bond Conditions may include No Contact with the victim(s). If No Contact is ordered, it is against the law for the defendant to contact you. If the defendant calls you from jail you may call 303-271-5445 to report the contact and have your number blocked.

Police will request your CONFIDENTIAL contact information to provide to the Jail upon the offender’s arrest. For this purpose, your contact information is not discoverable. You will be notified of custody status, unless you choose to opt out of notification. You may sign up for an automatic alert of offender’s change in custody status through Colorado VINE. Register by phone at 888-263-8463 or online at www.colorado-vine.com. You will need the offenders name and your phone number or email address for notification and a PIN #.

Criminal Protection Orders

The Criminal Protection Order issued by a judge automatically orders that the defendant:
Shall not harass, molest, intimidate, retaliate against, or tamper with any witness to or victim of the acts they are charged with committing.
It may also order that the defendant:

  • Shall vacate the home of the victim, stay away from the home and from any other location the victim is likely to be found.
  • Shall refrain from contacting a victim or directly or indirectly communicating with the victim.
  • Shall not possess or control a firearm or other weapon.
  • Shall not possess or consume alcoholic beverages or controlled substances.

Unless modified by a judge, the Criminal Protection Order remains in place throughout the duration of the case, even if the defendant bonds out of jail.

To get more information about the specific conditions of the Criminal Protection Order you may contact the Jail at 303-271-5445 or the District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Unit at 303-271-6550. If you need help with this, contact VOI at 303-202-2196.

Felony DV Charges

Felony cases will be filed at either Jefferson County or Adams County Court, depending on jurisdiction (where the crime occurred). A Victim/Witness Specialist and/or an Investigator from the District Attorney’s Office will be assigned to your case and will contact you soon to set up a time to meet. You may contact VOI with questions at 303-202-2196.

Misdemeanor DV Charges

Misdemeanor cases will be filed at the Jefferson County Court or at the Adams County Court, depending on Jurisdiction. Typically, you will issued a "Notice to Appear". This is an opportunity for you to provide input to the court regarding history, restraining order and/or desired outcome. Given changes related to COVID-19, you may instead be contacted by a Victim/Witness Specialist by telephone prior to the defendant's advisement.

If you have questions, have special needs or need transportation to court, you may call VOI’s 24-hour hotline at 303-202-2196 or the District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Unit the next business day following the defendant’s arrest.

Jefferson County Courts and Administration Building - 100 Jefferson County Parkway Golden, CO 80401 District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Unit at 303-271-6556

Adams County 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601 - District Attorney's Victim Witness Unit 1000 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO Ste 100 303-659-7735

If you have questions, have special needs or need transportation to court, you may call VOI’s 24-hour hotline at 303-202-2196 or the District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Unit at 303-271-6556 the next business day following the defendant’s arrest.