Drug Crimes

If you’ve been accused of drug possession, there are several specifics the prosecutor must prove in order for you to be convicted. It’s not enough for them to simply show up in court and say that the police found what they believe to be drugs on your person. If you find yourself in this...

Colorado and Washington legalized adult possession of marijuana in 2012. Since then, a large majority of states have legalized weed, either entirely or for medical use. Still others have decriminalized the drug, meaning that possession results in a fine instead of incarceration. Included among the fully legalized states are California and Illinois, two of the most...

A criminal drug conviction can haunt an individual for years. Potential employers, landlords, creditors and even government agencies often make immediate judgments upon seeing marks on an individual’s history. While it is possible to seal recent criminal drug convictions, doing so can be complicated and time-consuming. A waiting game The first step toward filing...

When someone experiences an overdose, they and the people near them may feel that they have to make a hard choice between looking for help and avoiding authorities. In Colorado, that is a misconception. In Colorado, the law provides immunity for those seeking treatment for an overdose. The Colorado Court of Appeals discussed the...

In most cases, the police need to have a search warrant issued by a judge before they can enter a private residence, search the residence, or seize items from the residence. If they do not have a warrant, they are not permitted to search a residence or seize items that they find in it...

Colorado was among the first states to legalize recreational marijuana in the U.S. As a result, some actions that may have led to a person’s arrest in the past are no longer considered criminal offenses. With the shifting rules and culture in mind, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office intends to “vacate and seal”...

You may know that our state was one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana in 2012. Most parents also realize that the legalization of recreational marijuana does not by any means indicate that the state is lax regarding other drug usage. Statistics indicate that as many as one in four college students...

With drug addiction comes the possibility of overdose. Looking at the numbers, there are many people in Colorado who are struggling – either themselves or by watching a loved one – and many more are losing the battle. The Colorado Health Institute released preliminary numbers, showing an increase in the number of people who...

Picture this: You’re driving home from a friend’s house. You are just blocks away from home when you see the flashing red lights in your rearview. You aren’t speeding. You’ve been using your turn signals. Even your tags are up-to-date. So just what is going on? The officer claims you swerved. Now he has...

At Dolan + Zimmerman, people often ask us, "What exactly does the Eighth Amendment prohibit?" The easiest way to explain it: the Eighth Amendment keeps the government from disproportionately punishing people for a crime. This applies to bail, fines, imprisonment, and other punishments a court may impose. These protections are in place to protect...