Skip to main content
US Criminal Defense.org
Menu

Colorado legal term

Mistaken identity in Colorado Criminal Law

Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session

In Colorado criminal law, “Mistaken identity” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Colorado criminal code.

What does “Mistaken identity” mean in Colorado criminal law?

"Mistaken identity" means the misidentification by a witness or law enforcement, confusion on the part of a witness or law enforcement as to the identity of the person who committed the crime, misinformation provided to law enforcement as to the identity of the person who committed the crime, or some other mistake on the part of a witness or law enforcement as to the identity of the person who committed the crime. (C.R.S. § 24-72-702)

Statutes defining or using this term

Related terms in the same statutes

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.