Colorado Drug Diversion Programs: Avoiding Conviction Through Treatment
December 1, 2025
If you’ve been charged with a crime in Denver, your mind is probably racing with questions: Will I go to jail? Is there any way to avoid it? The good news is that probation might be an option in your case, allowing you to serve your sentence in the community rather than behind bars. Want to know if you might qualify? Understanding how the probation system works in Denver can make all the difference when you’re fighting for your freedom.[...]
Parole and probation are both alternatives to imprisonment. Another thing they have in common is that either a probation violation or a parole violation is a threat to your freedom, and could potentially land you in jail for some or all of your original sentence.
However, these sentences are handed down under different circumstances, and their terms differ to some extent.
We’ve put together a guide covering the similarities and differences between parole and probation, the consequences of a violation, [...]
Probation programs provide an extremely valuable opportunity that may allow you to serve all or part of your sentence outside of prison.
However, Colorado probation programs have strict requirements, and any violations will not be tolerated. If you’re found to be in violation, you could even have your probation revoked, and be required to serve out the rest of your sentence behind bars.
If you’re hit with a probation violation, your freedom is at stake. It’s of utmost importance [...]
Judges will often commute a prison sentence to probation, especially for first-time and/or low-level offenders. Under probation, your prison sentence is suspended and you are allowed to remain in the community.
However, although probation is clearly preferable to incarceration, it also comes with stringent terms that you are obligated to follow. Failure to comply with probation terms and conditions may result not only in the revocation of your probation, but also additional penalties such as the reinstitution of your original [...]
If you are put on probation, you still have to display excellent behavior and stay out of trouble. Actions that are perfectly legal for anyone else may put you back in the courtroom – or possibly even jail.
Depending on the terms of your probation, one of those actions may be the seemingly innocuous decision to have a few drinks. Ty Lawson is learning this the hard way.
Back in 2015, when Lawson was still playing with the Denver Nuggets, [...]
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 [...]
A confession is one of the most powerful pieces of evidence in any criminal case. Denver law enforcement officers are trained to use strategic questioning and behavioral tactics to elicit statements. While many interrogations follow lawful standards, some cross the line into coercion. Once a confession is recorded, prosecutors may rely heavily on it, regardless of whether the statement was obtained fairly or accurately reflects the truth.
At the Law Office of Jacob Martinez, our criminal defense team understands how [...]