Denver County Court

Criminal Protection Orders

A Criminal Protection Order, sometimes called a Mandatory Protection Order or No Contact Order, may be issued in a criminal case.  The procedures depend upon the type of criminal case involved:

Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Cases:

A Criminal Protection Order may be ordered before a defendant can be released on bail.  It is issued by the Criminal Court and is not based on the victim’s request.  Therefore, the victim is not required to be present in court.

The Criminal Protection Order is similar to a Civil Protection Order in that it shall restrain the person charged from harassing, molesting, intimidating, retaliating against, or tampering with any witness or victim of the acts charged.  In other words, the defendant is ordered to stay away from and not communicate with any potential witnesses or the alleged victim.  However, unlike the Civil Protection Order, a Criminal Protection Order is not permanent.  A Criminal Protection Order is effective until sentencing, but it can be continued at the Judge’s discretion.  The Order is no longer in effect if the case is dismissed or when the case is closed.  Thus, if the charges are dismissed, or the sentence has been served and the case is closed, the Criminal Protection Order is no longer valid.

A request can be made to amend or vacate a No Contact Order prior to the end of the case.  The Victim Advocate assigned to the courtroom can provide information as to the process in that particular courtroom.  It is always up to the Judge as to whether or not a No Contact Order will be vacated or amended.

For assistance, please contact the District Attorney Victim Advocate Office for Misdemeanors at 720-913-9011 and ask to speak to the Victim Advocate assigned to your courtroom.  For help in locating the advocate assigned to your Denver District Court Felony case (if your case number includes a CR number) you may call 720-913-9000.

Municipal Ordinance Cases:

A Protection Order will generally be placed on a defendant before he or she can be released on bail.  It restrains the person charged from harassing, molesting, intimidating, retaliating against, or tampering with any witness or victim of the acts charged under the Denver Revised Municipal Ordinances.  It is not a No Contact Order.  A full no contact provision may be added to the Order upon the request of the City Attorney’s Office on the victim’s behalf.  The no contact provision of the Protection Order gives more protection to the victim because the defendant is not permitted to have any contact in person or by mail, email, phone, text or to cause any other person to contact the victim.

A Protection Order in a Municipal Ordinance case is similar to a Civil Protection Order in that it prohibits the defendant from contacting the victim or witness and from coming within a certain distance of the victim any place the victim may be found.  However, unlike a Civil Protection Order, a Protection Order in a Municipal Ordinance cases is only effective while the case is pending and possibly through the sentence.  In other words, if the charges are dismissed or the sentence has been served and the case is closed, the Protection Order is no longer valid.

A request to amend or vacate a no contact provision of the Protection Order prior to the end of the case.  The Victim Advocate assigned to the courtroom can provide information as to the process in the particular courtroom.  It is always up to the Judge as to whether or not a no contact provision will be vacated or amended.

For assistance, please contact the City Attorney Victim Advocate Office at 720-913-8020 and ask to speak to the Victim Advocate assigned to your courtroom.

Click here for information regarding the relinquishment of firearms and ammunition .

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