Colorado criminal charge
Interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions in Colorado
Interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-109. 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. § 18-9-109.
What is the penalty for interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (Denial of freedom of movement, use of facilities, or ingress/egress (subsection (1)) — Applies when a person violates subsection (1) by willfully denying lawful freedom of movement, use of property/facilities, or ingress/egress to students, officials, employees, or invitees.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to $300 (Denial of freedom of movement, use of facilities, or ingress/egress (subsection (1)) — Applies when a person violates subsection (1) by willfully denying lawful freedom of movement, use of property/facilities, or ingress/egress to students, officials, employees, or invitees.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (Impeding staff, faculty, or students through coercion or force (subsection (2)) — Applies when a person violates subsection (2) or (3) by willfully impeding staff, faculty, or a student through restraint, abduction, coercion, intimidation, or force/violence, or by refusing to leave upon lawful request while disrupting institutional functions.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to $750 (Impeding staff, faculty, or students through coercion or force (subsection (2)) — Applies when a person violates subsection (2) or (3) by willfully impeding staff, faculty, or a student through restraint, abduction, coercion, intimidation, or force/violence, or by refusing to leave upon lawful request while disrupting institutional functions.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Credible threat of death or bodily injury with a deadly weapon — Applies when a person knowingly makes or conveys a credible threat to cause death or bodily injury with a deadly weapon against a student, school official, employee, or invitee of an educational institution.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Credible threat of death or bodily injury with a deadly weapon — Applies when a person knowingly makes or conveys a credible threat to cause death or bodily injury with a deadly weapon against a student, school official, employee, or invitee of an educational institution.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denial of freedom of movement, use of facilities, or ingress/egress (subsection (1)) | Petty Offense | Applies when a person violates subsection (1) by willfully denying lawful freedom of movement, use of property/facilities, or ingress/egress to students, officials, employees, or invitees. | 18-9-109(5)(b) |
| Impeding staff, faculty, or students through coercion or force (subsection (2)) | Class 2 Misdemeanor | Applies when a person violates subsection (2) or (3) by willfully impeding staff, faculty, or a student through restraint, abduction, coercion, intimidation, or force/violence, or by refusing to leave upon lawful request while disrupting institutional functions. | 18-9-109(5)(a) |
| Credible threat of death or bodily injury with a deadly weapon | Class 1 Misdemeanor | Applies when a person knowingly makes or conveys a credible threat to cause death or bodily injury with a deadly weapon against a student, school official, employee, or invitee of an educational institution. | 18-9-109(6)(c) |
Common questions about interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions in Colorado
Is interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions ranges from a Petty Offense to a Class 1 Misdemeanor in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-9-109.
Denial of freedom of movement, use of facilities, or ingress/egress (subsection (1)): Petty Offense (C.R.S. § 18-9-109(5)(b)) · Impeding staff, faculty, or students through coercion or force (subsection (2)): Class 2 Misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-109(5)(a)) · Credible threat of death or bodily injury with a deadly weapon: Class 1 Misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-109(6)(c))
What are the penalties for interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions in Colorado?
Penalties for interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a Petty Offense up to a Class 1 Misdemeanor — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions?
Interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions is governed by C.R.S. § 18-9-109 (Interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions).
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.