Title 18, Criminal Code

A person is criminally liable for conduct constituting an offense which he performs or causes to occur in the name of or in behalf of a corporation to the same extent as if that conduct were performed or caused by him in his own name or behalf. Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 407, § 1. C…

(1) Unless inconsistent with other provisions of sections 18-1-702 to 18-1-710, defining justifiable use of physical force, or with some other provision of law, conduct which would otherwise constitute an offense is justifiable and not criminal when it is required or authorized b…

(1) Unless inconsistent with other provisions of sections 18-1-703 to 18-1-707, defining justifiable use of physical force, or with some other provision of law, conduct which would otherwise constitute an offense is justifiable and not criminal when it is necessary as an emergenc…

(1) The use of physical force upon another person that would otherwise constitute an offense is justifiable and not criminal under any of the following circumstances: (a) A parent, guardian, or other person entrusted with the care and supervision of a minor or an incompetent pers…

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a person is justified in using physical force upon another person in order to defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force by that othe…

(1) The general assembly hereby recognizes that the citizens of Colorado have a right to expect absolute safety within their own homes. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 18-1-704, any occupant of a dwelling is justified in using any degree of physical force, including…

A person in possession or control of any building, realty, or other premises, or a person who is licensed or privileged to be thereon, is justified in using reasonable and appropriate physical force upon another person when and to the extent that it is reasonably necessary to pre…

A person is justified in using reasonable and appropriate physical force upon another person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it necessary to prevent what he reasonably believes to be an attempt by the other person to commit theft, criminal mischief, or criminal…

A person is justified and exempt from criminal liability for criminal mischief, criminal trespass, or criminal tampering involving property if such action occurred when he or she rendered emergency assistance to an at-risk person or animal in a locked vehicle, provided the person…

(1) Peace officers, in carrying out their duties, shall apply nonviolent means, when possible, before resorting to the use of physical force. A peace officer may use physical force only if nonviolent means would be ineffective in effecting an arrest, preventing an escape, or prev…

A person may not be convicted of an offense, other than a class 1 felony, based upon conduct in which he engaged at the direction of another person because of the use or threatened use of unlawful force upon him or upon another person, which force or threatened use thereof a reas…

The commission of acts which would otherwise constitute an offense is not criminal if the defendant engaged in the proscribed conduct because he was induced to do so by a law enforcement official or other person acting under his direction, seeking to obtain evidence for the purpo…

The issues of justification or exemption from criminal liability under sections 18-1-701 to 18-1-709 are affirmative defenses. Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 412, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 40-1-810.

(1) A person is immune from arrest and prosecution for an offense described in subsection (3) of this section if: (a) The person reports in good faith an emergency drug or alcohol overdose event to a law enforcement officer, to the 911 system, or to a medical provider, or the per…

(1) Legislative declaration. The general assembly hereby encourages the administration and distribution of opioid antagonists, including expired opioid antagonists, by persons and entities, including law enforcement personnel, school district personnel, and health-care providers,…

The mere presence of a drug approved by the federal food and drug administration for opioid overdose reversal is not indicative of a crime and shall not be used to support probable cause. Source: L. 2024: Entire section added, (HB 24-1037), ch. 458, p. 3164, § 4, effective June 6…

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "person" means: (a) A person who is the victim of an offense set forth in subsection (3) of this section; (b) A person who is a victim of human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude pursuant to section 18-3…

(1) Except as provided in section 18-7-209, it is an affirmative defense to any charge, other than a class 1 felony, if the minor being charged proves, by a preponderance of the evidence, that he or she was, at the time of the offense: (a) A victim of human trafficking of a minor…

(1) Evidence of a victim's, defendant's, or witness's actual or perceived gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation offered in relation to an affirmative defense or pursuant to rule 404 of the Colorado rules of evidence may be admissible only at trial and shall no…

The responsibility of a person for his conduct is the same for persons between the ages of ten and eighteen as it is for persons over eighteen except to the extent that responsibility is modified by the provisions of the "Colorado Children's Code", title 19, C.R.S. No child under…

(1) (a) A person who is insane, as defined in section 16-8-101, C.R.S., is not responsible for his or her conduct defined as criminal. Insanity as a defense shall not be an issue in any prosecution unless it is raised by a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity as provided in s…

(1) Evidence of an impaired mental condition, as defined in section 16-8-102 (4), though not legal insanity, may be offered in a proper case as bearing upon the capacity of the accused to form the culpable mental state that is an element of the offense charged. (2) An intention t…

(1) Intoxication of the accused is not a defense to a criminal charge, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, but in any prosecution for an offense, evidence of intoxication of the defendant may be offered by the defendant when it is relevant to negative the existe…

The issue of responsibility under sections 18-1-801 to 18-1-804 is an affirmative defense. Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 412, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 40-1-905.

(1) Definitions set forth in any section of this title apply wherever the same term is used in the same sense in another section of this title unless the definition is specifically limited or the context indicates that it is inapplicable. (2) The terms defined in section 18-1-104…