Colorado criminal charge
Harassment in Colorado
Harassment is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-111. 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. § 18-9-111.
What is the penalty for harassment in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (no statutory minimum) (Harassment by physical contact, following, or interference with transit worker (or bias-motivated) — Applies when a person violates subsection (1)(a), (1)(c), or (1)(i), or violates subsection (1) with intent to intimidate or harass based on the victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Harassment by physical contact, following, or interference with transit worker (or bias-motivated) — Applies when a person violates subsection (1)(a), (1)(c), or (1)(i), or violates subsection (1) with intent to intimidate or harass based on the victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Harassment by electronic communication, repeated phone calls, inconvenient-hour communications, or repeated insults — Applies when a person violates subsection (1)(e), (1)(f), (1)(g), or (1)(h).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Harassment by electronic communication, repeated phone calls, inconvenient-hour communications, or repeated insults — Applies when a person violates subsection (1)(e), (1)(f), (1)(g), or (1)(h).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Harassment by obscene language or gesture in public — Applies when a person violates subsection (1)(b).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Harassment by obscene language or gesture in public — Applies when a person violates subsection (1)(b).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is harassment classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harassment by physical contact, following, or interference with transit worker (or bias-motivated) | class 1 misdemeanor | Applies when a person violates subsection (1)(a), (1)(c), or (1)(i), or violates subsection (1) with intent to intimidate or harass based on the victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity. | 18-9-111(2)(a) |
| Harassment by electronic communication, repeated phone calls, inconvenient-hour communications, or repeated insults | class 2 misdemeanor | Applies when a person violates subsection (1)(e), (1)(f), (1)(g), or (1)(h). | 18-9-111(2)(b) |
| Harassment by obscene language or gesture in public | petty offense | Applies when a person violates subsection (1)(b). | 18-9-111(2)(c) |
Common questions about harassment in Colorado
Is harassment a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: harassment ranges from a petty offense to a class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-9-111.
Harassment by physical contact, following, or interference with transit worker (or bias-motivated): class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-111(2)(a)) · Harassment by electronic communication, repeated phone calls, inconvenient-hour communications, or repeated insults: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-111(2)(b)) · Harassment by obscene language or gesture in public: petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-9-111(2)(c))
What are the penalties for harassment in Colorado?
Penalties for harassment in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a petty offense up to a class 1 misdemeanor — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers harassment?
Harassment is governed by C.R.S. § 18-9-111 (Harassment - Kiana Arellano's Law).
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.