2. The FBI or police want to talk to me about a crime they think I might have committed. Should I talk to them?
- No, not without consulting a criminal defense attorney first. Our client list is filled with people who thought they could talk their way out of
it. If the police want to talk to you, it's because they need more information to arrest or prosecute you. Don't give it to them. Also, be
advised that "lying" to the FBI or other federal agents can be a separate criminal offense.

3. I or my significant other was charged with domestic violence. The court issued a no contact order. Can we ignore it? What do we
have to do to get it lifted?
- Ignoring a no contact order by calling, talking to, emailing, or otherwise trying to contact the so-called protected person is a separate crime
and should not be done. Having another person contact the protected person is also prohibited. Getting the order lifted takes persistant effort
with the district attorney's office and court. Some DA's offices have a form the protected person may complete in order to facilitate the
process, which takes at least a week or two and sometimes 6 to 8 weeks or more. Once charges are filed, the decision to prosecute or not is
solely up to the DA.

4. I'm charged with a crime in state court and want to leave the state temporarily. Can I do this?
- If the court has ordered a bond and one is in effect, it is likely you cannot leave the state without court permission. Doing so could result in
a bond violation and jail.

5. A friend or family member has been arrested. What should I do?
- If possible, communicate in private with the person as soon as possible and remind them to remain silent. Be advised most jail phone
systems are subject to listening by police. Tell them you are in the process of retaining a criminal defense lawyer and to be patient. Assuming
the person is in custody, the most important thing at this stage is to get them out. Contact a bail bonds person immediately as they are
knowledgeable about the process and will move quickly. Expect to pay them 10-15% of the bond amount as their fee. Schedule a meeting
with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. You may be contacted by police, etc. as a potential witness. You are not compelled to
answer any questions unless and until subpoenaed to court. If contacted it is most likely because the police are looking for more information
to support criminal charges.

6. What is the misdemeanor criminal process in Colorado? What is the felony criminal process?
- Misdemeanor process flowchart (click here for PDF version)
- Felony process flowchart (click here for PDF version)

7. How do criminal defense attorneys charge for handling criminal cases?
- Generally criminal defense lawyers handle criminal cases two ways, via a flat fee or an hourly fee. Flat fee
means the lawyer charges a lump sum, or a portion of a lump sum, to handle the case or parts of it. An hourly
fee is when the criminal defense lawyer bills for his time on the case. Contingency fees, i.e. those that
depend on the outcome of the criminal case, are prohibited. Your criminal defense attorney should give you a
fee agreement explaining how his fee works, together with how costs of the case, like copies, investigators,
exhibits, etc. are handled.

8. How much should I expect to pay for a criminal defense lawyer in Boulder, Colorado to defend
my criminal case?
- Obviously much depends on the facts of the case, the jurisdiction, possible consequences, your history,
and whether the case goes to trial (most don't). For low level state court misdemeanors, expect to pay over
the duration of the case $6,000-$12,000. For more serious misdemeanors and low level felonies, expect to
pay $10,000-$25,000. You should expect to pay at least $50,000-$100,000 and sometimes well over for more
serious felonies. Costs, like filing fees, expert witnesses, exhibits, etc. can add $1,000-$10,000 or more. Due
to longer prison sentences and other consequences, federal criminal cases can cost 2-3 times state cases.