Colorado criminal charge
Cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals in Colorado
Cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-202. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-202.
What is the penalty for cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (no statutory minimum) (Cruelty to animals — first offense — A violation of subsection (1) (basic cruelty to animals) or cruelty to a service animal or law enforcement animal under (1.5)(c) is a class 1 misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided in (2)(b).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Cruelty to animals — first offense — A violation of subsection (1) (basic cruelty to animals) or cruelty to a service animal or law enforcement animal under (1.5)(c) is a class 1 misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided in (2)(b).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | 12 months to 18 months (Cruelty to animals — second or subsequent conviction — A second or subsequent conviction under subsection (1)(a) for cruelty to animals is a class 6 felony.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 1000 usd to 100000 usd (Cruelty to animals — second or subsequent conviction — A second or subsequent conviction under subsection (1)(a) for cruelty to animals is a class 6 felony.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 1 years to 1 years (Cruelty to animals — second or subsequent conviction — A second or subsequent conviction under subsection (1)(a) for cruelty to animals is a class 6 felony.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Jail / prison | 2 years to 6 years (Aggravated cruelty to animals — Aggravated cruelty to animals, as described in subsection (1.5)(b), including knowing torture, mutilation, or killing of an animal or knowing killing/causing death of a law enforcement animal, is a class 4 felony.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 2000 usd to 500000 usd (Aggravated cruelty to animals — Aggravated cruelty to animals, as described in subsection (1.5)(b), including knowing torture, mutilation, or killing of an animal or knowing killing/causing death of a law enforcement animal, is a class 4 felony.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 3 years to 3 years (Aggravated cruelty to animals — Aggravated cruelty to animals, as described in subsection (1.5)(b), including knowing torture, mutilation, or killing of an animal or knowing killing/causing death of a law enforcement animal, is a class 4 felony.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruelty to animals — first offense | class 1 misdemeanor | A violation of subsection (1) (basic cruelty to animals) or cruelty to a service animal or law enforcement animal under (1.5)(c) is a class 1 misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided in (2)(b). | 18-9-202(2)(a) |
| Cruelty to animals — second or subsequent conviction | class 6 felony | A second or subsequent conviction under subsection (1)(a) for cruelty to animals is a class 6 felony. | 18-9-202(2)(b)(I) |
| Aggravated cruelty to animals | class 4 felony | Aggravated cruelty to animals, as described in subsection (1.5)(b), including knowing torture, mutilation, or killing of an animal or knowing killing/causing death of a law enforcement animal, is a class 4 felony. | 18-9-202(2)(c) |
Common questions about cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals in Colorado
Is cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 4 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-9-202.
Cruelty to animals — first offense: class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-202(2)(a)) · Cruelty to animals — second or subsequent conviction: class 6 felony (C.R.S. § 18-9-202(2)(b)(I)) · Aggravated cruelty to animals: class 4 felony (C.R.S. § 18-9-202(2)(c))
What are the penalties for cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals in Colorado?
Penalties for cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 4 felony — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals?
Cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals is governed by C.R.S. § 18-9-202 (Cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals - penalties - short title - definition).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.