Victim Rights & Resources

The Victim Rights Amendment (VRA) C.R.S. 24-4.1-301-304 states: Any person who is a victim of a criminal act or such person’s designee, legal guardian, or surviving immediate family members if such person is deceased, shall have the right to be heard when relevant, informed, and present at all critical stages of the criminal justice process. All terminology, including the term “critical stages” shall be defined by the general assembly (Article II, Section 16A Colorado State Constitution). 

Please tap here Victim Rights and Responsibilities for a complete list of your rights and responsibilities.

It is your responsibility to keep law enforcement, district attorney’s office, and courts informed of any changes to your name, address, and telephone numbers.

Victim Rights Amendment C.R.S. 24-4.1-301-304 Summarized

As a victim of crime, you have at least the following rights: to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect; to be protected from intimidation and harm; to be kept informed about what happens in critical stages of your case to include the investigation itself, prosecution of the case by the DA’s Office, trial and sentencing of your case in court; to have any property that may have been kept as evidence to be returned to you in a timely manner; to be notified of arrests, transfers, releases of custody, returns to custody, and bond information for defendants involved in your case; to be informed of whether your case would qualify for compensation benefits or financial support; to request services of the Victim Services Unit with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office any time.

Please click here for Rights Afforded Victims  to read all rights to which you have the right to be informed in detail as laid out in
C.R.S. 24-4.1-302.

In addition to the right to be informed and present, a victim also has the right to be heard at hearings on bond reduction, acceptance of a negotiated plea and at sentencing. A Victim has the right to give input to the court regarding motions to continue.

If all efforts to obtain your rights have failed, you may request assistance from the Governor’s Victims’ Coordinating Committee. For additional information call the Office of Victims’ Program at the Division of Criminal Justice (303) 239-4442.

Crimes that fall under the Victim Rights Act include:

• Murder - intentional death of another caused by another person
• Manslaughter - death of another caused by recklessness of another person
• Criminally Negligent Homicide -death of another caused by the negligence of someone
• Vehicular Homicide or Vehicular Assault -unlawful or negligent operation of a vehicle results in serious bodily injury or death of another person
• Assault -intentionally causing pain or injury to another person
• Menacing - knowingly causing someone to fear of serious bodily injury or for their lives
• Kidnapping - knowingly taking someone or a child from one place to another against their will; by anyone, including a parent
• Sexual Assault - encompasses a wide range of sexual acts perpetrated against someone without their consent
• Incest and Aggravated Incest -sexual contact with a relative, natural child, adopted child, or stepchild; ‘aggravated’ includes action that increases gravity or severity
• Child Abuse - physical maltreatment of a child or an act or failure to act by parent or caretaker that results in death, physical injury, emotional harm, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation
• Sexual Exploitation of a Child - taking advantage of a power imbalance to force a child into commercial sex acts for gain, monetary or otherwise
• Crimes involving Child Prostitution - arranging a meeting for the purpose of trading money for sex
• Crime against At-Risk Juveniles or At-Risk Adults
  - individuals that may lack capacity to make or understand responsible decisions, may require temporary or ongoing intervention
• Indecent Exposure - intentionally showing one’s intimate parts to another or in public
• Robbery, Aggravated Robbery, Robbery of Controlled Substances -knowingly taking something of value by use of force, threat, or intimidation; ‘aggravated’ includes action that increases gravity or severity
• First Degree Arson - knowingly set fire to or burns and causes damages or destruction of any building or occupied structure of another without consent
• Invasion of Privacy - knowingly observes or photographs another person’s intimate parts without consent
• Careless Driving - that results in the death of another person
• Failure to Stop at the Scene of an Accident - that results in the death of another person
• Stalking - repeated harassment through a credible threat by following, approaching, contacting, surveilling, or communicating with another or their family member
• Human Trafficking - knowingly sells, recruits, harbors, transports, transfers, isolates, entices, provides, receives, or obtains for purpose of coercion to perform labor or services for involuntary servitude
• First and Second Degree Burglary - illegally entering a building or dwelling with the intent to commit a crime against property or persons
• Bias Motivated Crimes - ethnic harassment or intimidation
• Retaliation of a Victim, Witness, Judge, Juror, Prosecutor, or Elected Official
• Any Crime for which the underlying foundation is deemed to be Domestic Violence or an act of Domestic Violence by Law Enforcement, a District Attorney, or a Judge 
• Intimidation or Aggravated Intimidation of a Victim or Witness - words, actions, or behaviors that cause someone to apprehend fear; ‘aggravated’ includes action that increases gravity or severity
• Tampering with a Victim or Witness -tampering with property of another with intent to cause injury, inconvenience, annoyance, or impairment of utility services
• Posting a Private Image for Harassment or Pecuniary Gain - posting images anywhere for others to view for some monetary benefit
• Violation of a Criminal Protection Order issued against a person charged with committing Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault on a Child, Sexual Assault on a Client by a Therapist, or Stalking

The Victim’s Rights Act  also includes any Criminal Attempt, Conspiracy, Criminal Solicitation, or Accessory involving ANY of the crimes above - engaging in conduct that would be a step towards committing the crime, an agreement between two or more people to commit the crime, seeking out someone else to engage in the crime, or intention to prevent discovery or investigation of the crime.

• Filing of Charges and the Decision Not to File Charges
• Preliminary Hearing -to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial
• Bond Reduction or Modification Hearing -agreement to pay the court to be released from custody with conditions and sanctions
• Arraignment Hearing -defendant is advised of charges and can enter a guilty or not-guilty plea
• Motions Hearing -prosecution or defense files a request for the court to take a certain action
• Disposition Hearing -final decision of the case, or allows a defendant to consider a plea agreement
• Trial -testimony heard by panel of jurors
• Sentencing, Modification of Sentencing, Resentencing, or Sentencing Reconsideration Hearing -final decision for consequences
• Probation Revocation Hearing -if a probation complaint, summons, or warrant is filed for failure to report, location is unknown, or crime is committed
• Request for Transfer of Probation Supervision to Another Location
• Request for Release from Probation Supervision -prior to the expiration of the sentence
• Any Court Ordered Modification of Probation Terms and Conditions
• The Decision to Enter into a Diversion Agreement - allows charges to be dismissed upon successful completion of terms of the sentence
• Transfer to or Placement of the Defendant in a Non-Secure Facility -such as a state hospital
• Parole Application Hearing and Full Parole Board Review Hearing
• Request for Release from Community Corrections prior to the Expiration of the Sentence
• Parole, Release, or Discharge from Imprisonment
• Parole Revocation Hearing
• Transfer, Release, or Escape of Defendant from Corrections or a State Hospital
• Execution of an Offender in a Capital Case
• Any Petition or Request by a Sex Offender to Terminate their Registration
• Any Hearing for Petition of Expungement or a Juvenile Offender’s Record

Please tap the Victim Rights Amendment tab above to see the Rights Afforded Victims and the critical stages to which you have the right to be informed in detail as laid out in C.R.S. 24-4.1-302.

Morgan County Sheriff’s Office provides victim notification regarding offender release or permanent transfer within detentions facilities in VRA cases. Victims will be contacted by the victim services advocates, another staff member, or through Victim’s Information Notification (VINE) for notification of any change in offender status. You may contact the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office victim services advocates or detentions with questions or to verify that you are registered with VINE for notification.

To here to access (VINE) Victim Information Notification Everyday information.

Automated Victim Notification Services

VINE Link
P: 888-263-8463

Domestic Violence Advocacy/Safe Housing

Share, Inc.
970-867-4444

Help for Abused Partners
970-522-2307

National Domestic Violence Hotline
 www.thehotline.org
1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788

Sexual Assault

Sara, Inc
970-867-2121

Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA)
https://www.ccasa.org/

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
 www.rainn.org
1-800-656-4673

Food/Clothing/Rental Assistance

Rising Up
970-370-8880

Morgan County

Department of Human Services
800 East Beaver Avenue
Fort Morgan, CO 80701
970-542-3500

Mental Health

CHATA
Center for Healing Trauma & Attachment
206 Clayton Street
Brush, CO 80723
P: 970-397-4609

Centennial Mental Health
910 Railroad Ave.
Fort Morgan, CO 80701
P: 970-867-4924

Miscellaneous

CO Crisis Services
1-844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255
https://coloradocrisisservices.org/

CO Legal Services
https://www.coloradolegalservices.org

Veteran’s Crisis Line
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
Dial 988, Press 1 or text 838255

Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center
https://www.rmvictimlaw.org

Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)
https://dcs.colorado.gov/acp

Violence Free CO
https://www.violencefreecolorado.org

Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ):
Office for Victims Programs (OVP)
https://dcj.colorado.gov/

File a Formal Victim Rights Act Complaint
https://dcj.colorado.gov/file-a-formal-complaint-victims-rights-act

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
www.988lifeline.org
Dial 988

Law Enforcement Agencies

Brush Police Department
600 Edison Street
Brush, CO 80723
Dispatch
970-842-5021

Administration
970-842-5074

Fax
970-842-5909

Fort Morgan Police Department
901 E. Beaver Ave
Fort Morgan, CO 80701
Dispatch
970-867-5678
Administration
970-542-3946

Log Lane Village Police Department
109 Main Street
Log Lane Village, CO 80705
Dispatch
970-867-2461
Administration
970-867-8027

Wiggins Police Department
304 E. Central Ave.
Wiggins, CO 80654

Dispatch
970-867-2461

Administration
970-483-6161
Fax
970-483-7364

Colorado State Patrol
1336011-76 Frontage Rd.
Fort Morgan, CO 80701
P: 970-867-6657
Dispatch: 303-239-4501
F: 970-867-0289

13^th Judicial District Attorney's Office 
400 Warner Street
Fort Morgan, CO 80701

Victim Advocate

Jill Olsen

jo1sen@13thda.com
P: 970-542-3420

Morgan County Combined Courts
400 Warner Street
Fort Morgan, CO 80701
P: 970-542-5200
F: 970-542-7091

Law Enforcement Victim Advocates
Morgan County
970-542-3449
Kit Carson County
719-346-8876
Logan County
970-522-2578
Phillips County
970-854-3644
Sedgwick County
970-474-3355
Washington County
970-345-2244
Yuma County
970-332-4805
Colorado State Patrol
303-273-1618

13^th Judicial District Probation
Fort Morgan
970-542-3465
Sterling
970-522-4303
Wray
970-332-5213
Burlington
719-346-5938

Morgan County
400 Warner Street
Fort Morgan, CO 80701
970-542-3420

Kit Carson, Logan
Phillips, Sedgwick,
Washington &
Yuma County
110 N. Riverview Road, Rm 105
Sterling, CO 80751
970-522-2973 

Crime  Victim Compensation Fund
400 Warner Street
Fort Morgan, CO 80701
970-542-3473
https://dcj.colorado.gov/dcj-offices/victims-programs/crime-victim-compensation

Who Qualifies for Victim Compensation?

You may be eligible to receive crime victim compensation if:

• You or your family are victims of a violent crime in Colorado, or
• You or your family are residents of Colorado who have been victimized in a state or country that does not have a victim compensation program or will not cover your loss.

To be eligible for victim compensation in Colorado, you must meet certain criteria from the Crime Victim Compensation Statute:

• The victim sustains mental or bodily injury, dies, or suffers property damage to locks, windows, or doors to residential property as a result of the crime.
• The victim cooperates with law enforcement officials.
• The police were notified within 72 hours after the crime occurred.
• The injury or death of the victim was not the result of the victim's own wrongdoing or substantial provocation.
• The victimization occurred on or after July 1, 1982.
• The application for compensation was submitted within one year from the date of the crime or within six months for property damage claims.

The local victim compensation board may waive some of these requirements for good cause or in the interest of justice. This includes application deadlines.

What Losses Are Eligible for Victim Compensation?

Losses directly related to the compensable crime are eligible for reimbursement, and may include:

• Medical Expenses
• Mental Health Expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of support to dependents
• Residential Property Damage to Exterior Windows
• Locks and Doors
• Funeral Expenses

Advisement: Court hearing where the defendant is notified of his or her rights and potential charges against them. 

Arraignment: Court hearing where a defendant pleads guilty or not guilty. Witnesses do not testify at this hearing. 

Arrest: The taking into custody of a person by a law enforcement agency. 

Bond Hearing: A hearing by the Court to determine how much bail is required to be posted before the defendant can be released from custody. 

Continuance: When a court hearing is continued. 

Cold Case: A term used to describe unresolved cases. This happens when all leads have been exhausted and resulted in no suspects. 

Critical Stages: Events in a case when victims’ rights must be considered as explained in this booklet. 

Defendant: A person who is accused of committing a crime. 

Disposition: When a case is resolved without a trial. 

Filing of Charges: Presentation of written charges to the Clerk of Court. The document is also called a complaint and information or an indictment. 

Motions Hearing: A hearing where a Judge decides what evidence will be allowed at trial. A victim may be called to testify in this hearing. 

No Contact: A condition of bond that means that a defendant cannot have contact with a victim by phone, letter, through a third person or in person. 

Plea Agreement: A defendant pleads guilty to a charge or a lesser charge in return for a sentence that may be less than if convicted of all charges at trial. 

Preliminary Hearing: A hearing to determine if there is probable cause to believe that a crime was committed by the defendant. This is the first hearing when witnesses may have to testify. 

Probation: The release, under specific conditions, of a person convicted of a crime as an alternative to imprisonment. 

Restitution: After conviction, a defendant can be ordered to pay the victim for financial losses caused by criminal conduct. This is different from Victim Compensation. 

Sentence: The penalty that is given by a Judge to a defendant upon conviction of a crime. 

Subpoena: A court order to appear in court, which is mailed to the witness or personally delivered. 

Trial: An examination of issues of fact and law before a Judge or Jury. Evidence is presented to determine whether or not the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of committing the charged crime(s).