A deferred judgment is a “temporary plea” that allows the defendant to complete an agreement with the judge and district attorney in exchange for not having the conviction entered against them. Deferred judgments are covered in CRS § 16-7-403 of Colorado law. If you are facing a criminal conviction, deferred judgment may allow you to avoid a conviction on your criminal record!
How Deferred Judgments Work in Colorado
If agreed upon by the defendant, prosecutor, and judge, a criminal conviction may be deferred, effectively suspended for a period of time. During this time, the defendant is not charged with the conviction; instead, they are expected to fulfill the terms and conditions of a contract. This agreement is similar to a probationary sentence—however, upon completing the terms of the contract, the guilty plea may be withdrawn, and the case will be dismissed!
Avoid a Conviction on Your Criminal Record
If you are facing a criminal accusation, seeking a deferred judgment may protect your criminal record from a conviction. There are many advantages to this; not only would you be able to continue to pursue all of your career opportunities without trouble, but you may also avoid some of the more serious consequences of a conviction, such as extended imprisonment.
Deferred judgments may work in all kinds of criminal cases, such as:
Have you considered your options with deferred judgment? Contact the Damascus Road Law Group and discuss your situation with a skilled criminal lawyer in Colorado Springs!