Colorado legal term
Serious harm in Colorado Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session
In Colorado criminal law, “Serious harm” 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 “Serious harm” mean in Colorado criminal law?
"Serious harm" means bodily injury or any other harm, whether physical or nonphysical, including psychological, financial, or reputational harm, which is sufficiently serious, under all the surrounding circumstances, to compel a reasonable person to perform or continue to perform labor or services or sexual activity to avoid incurring the harm. (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.