Colorado legal term
Debt bondage in Colorado Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session
In Colorado criminal law, “Debt bondage” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Colorado criminal code.
What does “Debt bondage” mean in Colorado criminal law?
"Debt bondage" means: (a) Demanding commercial sexual activity as payment toward or satisfaction of a real or purported debt; or (b) Demanding labor or services as payment toward or satisfaction of a real or purported debt and failing to apply the reasonable value of the labor or services toward the liquidation of the debt; or (c) Demanding labor or services where the length of the labor or services is not limited and the nature of the labor or services is not defined. (C.R.S. § 18-3-502)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.