Colorado criminal charge
Criminal possession of an identification document in Colorado
Criminal possession of an identification document is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-5-903.5. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-5-903.5.
What is the penalty for criminal possession of an identification document in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Possession of identification document(s) issued to same person — Applies when the person criminally possesses one or more identification documents all issued to the same person.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Possession of identification document(s) issued to same person — Applies when the person criminally possesses one or more identification documents all issued to the same person.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | 12 months to 18 months (Possession of identification documents issued to different persons — Applies when the person criminally possesses two or more identification documents, at least two of which are issued to different persons.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 1000 usd to 100000 usd (Possession of identification documents issued to different persons — Applies when the person criminally possesses two or more identification documents, at least two of which are issued to different persons.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 1 years to 1 years (Possession of identification documents issued to different persons — Applies when the person criminally possesses two or more identification documents, at least two of which are issued to different persons.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is criminal possession of an identification document classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possession of identification document(s) issued to same person | class 2 misdemeanor | Applies when the person criminally possesses one or more identification documents all issued to the same person. | 18-5-903.5(2)(a) |
| Possession of identification documents issued to different persons | class 6 felony | Applies when the person criminally possesses two or more identification documents, at least two of which are issued to different persons. | 18-5-903.5(2)(b) |
Common questions about criminal possession of an identification document in Colorado
Is criminal possession of an identification document a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: criminal possession of an identification document ranges from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-5-903.5.
Possession of identification document(s) issued to same person: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-5-903.5(2)(a)) · Possession of identification documents issued to different persons: class 6 felony (C.R.S. § 18-5-903.5(2)(b))
What are the penalties for criminal possession of an identification document in Colorado?
Penalties for criminal possession of an identification document in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 2 misdemeanor up to a class 6 felony — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers criminal possession of an identification document?
Criminal possession of an identification document is governed by C.R.S. § 18-5-903.5 (Criminal possession of an identification document).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.