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Colorado statute

C.R.S. § 18-7-901 — Unlawful distribution of a suicide recording - definitions - Lil' Von Mercado's Law.

Current through 2025 Regular Session

Part of Part 9: UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTION OF SUICIDE RECORDINGS, Colorado Revised Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of C.R.S. § 18-7-901

Statutory text current through the 2025 Regular Session. This is an officially sanctioned publication using the official text of the Colorado Revised Statutes; it is not the official statutes of the State of Colorado.

C.R.S. § 18-7-901Primary source, current through the 2025 Regular Session
(1) A person commits the offense of posting an image of suicide of a minor if the person intentionally posts or distributes through the use of social media or any website, or disseminates through other means, an image of a minor attempting suicide, dying by suicide, or having died by suicide, with the intent to harass, intimidate, or coerce any person, and the posting or distribution results in serious emotional distress to any person. (2) Posting an image of suicide as described in subsection (1) of this section of a minor is a civil infraction and is punishable by a penalty of one hundred dollars per violation; except that posting an image of suicide of a minor is a class 2 misdemeanor if the person was the first or original person to post, distribute, or disseminate the image. (3) For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Image" means a photograph, film, videotape, recording, digital file, or other reproduction. (b) "Social media" means any electronic medium, including an interactive computer service, telephone network, or data network, that allows users to create, share, and view user-generated content, including but not limited to videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant messages, electronic mail, or internet website profiles. (4) It is not an offense under this section if the posting or distribution of the image is a fictional work or a documentary; or is related to a matter of public interest or public concern; or related to the reporting of unlawful conduct; or the lawful and common practices of law enforcement, criminal reporting, legal proceedings, or medical treatment. (5) This section is known as and may be cited as "Lil' Von Mercado's Law".

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is unlawful distribution of a suicide recording a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?

It depends on the circumstances: unlawful distribution of a suicide recording ranges from a civil infraction to a class 2 misdemeanor in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-7-901.

Posting an image of suicide of a minor - general: civil infraction (C.R.S. § 18-7-901(2)) · Posting an image of suicide of a minor - first/original poster: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-7-901(2))

Which Colorado statute covers unlawful distribution of a suicide recording?

Unlawful distribution of a suicide recording is governed by C.R.S. § 18-7-901 (Unlawful distribution of a suicide recording - definitions - Lil' Von Mercado's Law).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.