Colorado criminal charge
Recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang in Colorado
Recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-23-102. 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. § 18-23-102.
What is the penalty for recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Recruitment by solicitation/recruitment/encouragement — Applies when the offense is committed as described in subsection (1)(a), i.e., knowingly soliciting, inviting, recruiting, encouraging, coercing, or causing a minor to join or participate in a criminal street gang.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Recruitment by solicitation/recruitment/encouragement — Applies when the offense is committed as described in subsection (1)(a), i.e., knowingly soliciting, inviting, recruiting, encouraging, coercing, or causing a minor to join or participate in a criminal street gang.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (no statutory minimum) (Recruitment by force/threat/intimidation to prevent leaving gang — Applies when the offense is committed as described in subsection (1)(b), i.e., using force, threat, intimidation, or bodily injury to prevent a minor from leaving a criminal street gang.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Recruitment by force/threat/intimidation to prevent leaving gang — Applies when the offense is committed as described in subsection (1)(b), i.e., using force, threat, intimidation, or bodily injury to prevent a minor from leaving a criminal street gang.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruitment by solicitation/recruitment/encouragement | class 2 misdemeanor | Applies when the offense is committed as described in subsection (1)(a), i.e., knowingly soliciting, inviting, recruiting, encouraging, coercing, or causing a minor to join or participate in a criminal street gang. | 18-23-102(2) |
| Recruitment by force/threat/intimidation to prevent leaving gang | class 1 misdemeanor | Applies when the offense is committed as described in subsection (1)(b), i.e., using force, threat, intimidation, or bodily injury to prevent a minor from leaving a criminal street gang. | 18-23-102(2) |
Common questions about recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang in Colorado
Is recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang ranges from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-23-102.
Recruitment by solicitation/recruitment/encouragement: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-23-102(2)) · Recruitment by force/threat/intimidation to prevent leaving gang: class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-23-102(2))
What are the penalties for recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang in Colorado?
Penalties for recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 2 misdemeanor up to a class 1 misdemeanor — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang?
Recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang is governed by C.R.S. § 18-23-102 (Recruitment of juveniles for a criminal street gang).
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.