When Police Body Camera Footage Can Help Your Criminal Defense Case
December 22, 2025
You thought that it was just a little lover’s quarrel. So when the police showed up and arrested you on charges of domestic violence, it was a complete shock. They didn’t even care that your supposed victim said it was a mistake and they had no interest in pressing charges.
How can something like this happen?
Many Coloradans don’t really understand how our state defines and handles criminal acts of domestic violence. Because of this, it is fairly common for [...]
A restraining order – also called a protective order – is an order issued by a judge that tells one person to stay away from and not to communicate with, threaten, or hurt another person. Protective orders are usually used in domestic violence cases to protect victims and family members.
Whether you’re an individual seeking a protective order against someone else or another person is seeking a protective order against you, it’s important to understand the conditions of a protective [...]
Even though the media may stress that domestic violence increases over the holidays, domestic violence advocates and research tell a different story.
Overall, domestic violence does not increase over the holidays. In fact, it may actually decrease a bit. Depending on whom you ask and where you collect your data, there may be spikes in domestic violence, but there are usually other factors to consider. And increases in holiday domestic violence are the exceptions instead of the rule.
It makes [...]
Though many people are aware that federal law restricts felons from owning firearms, they may not be aware that Colorado also restricts the gun rights of individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes—even if the offense was a misdemeanor.
In 2013, Colorado passed a law preventing convicted domestic abusers from purchasing guns. If a misdemeanor domestic violence charge shows up on a background check, gun retailers cannot sell that person a firearm.
The law also made it illegal for offenders to [...]
Domestic violence is a crime that occurs behind closed doors—both the closed doors of a shared dwelling and the closed doors of the domestic abuser’s mind.
The psychology of a domestic abuser is different from other violent criminals. Often the abuser has no history of violent crime, and his sudden acts of aggression can seem uncharacteristic to his partner, family, and community.
A new study from the psychology research lab at Northwestern has shed some light on the mind of [...]
Police body camera footage has become one of the most influential types of evidence in Colorado criminal cases. What officers’ records can support their account or expose inconsistencies that benefit your defense. Understanding how to obtain and use this footage is essential when facing charges.
At the Law Office of Jacob Martinez, our Denver criminal defense attorney team pursues body camera footage in every case where it exists. We know how to analyze video evidence, identify improper police conduct, and [...]
Colorado’s justice system has expanded treatment-focused alternatives for individuals charged with lower-level drug offenses. Many of these opportunities can reshape the direction of a case before it reaches a courtroom. Across Colorado, diversion initiatives differ by county and by the supervising court. Their common purpose is to provide structured support for people whose circumstances are tied to addiction or misuse.
For Denver residents, the Law Office of Jacob Martinez regularly helps clients pursue these options. A drug defense attorney can [...]
Mental health conditions can intersect with criminal justice in complex ways, requiring nuanced handling. In Denver, urban stressors can exacerbate these challenges, making it essential to understand how mental health affects criminal cases.
Consulting a Denver criminal defense lawyer at the Law Office of Jacob Martinez early ensures these factors are addressed properly, potentially leading to treatment-focused resolutions instead of punitive measures.
How Mental Health Influences Criminal BehaviorMental health disorders can shape behavior in ways that lead to criminal [...]