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The Colorado Judicial Department has an ADA grievance process through the Office of the State Court Administrator by which an individual may seek review of a decision concerning reasonable accommodation. A grievance form, with a copy of the previous decision included, should be submitted within 60 days of the alleged violation to the Director of Human Resources or a designee at the Colorado State Court Administrator's Office, 1300 Broadway, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80203.

A service animal is any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefits of an individual with a disability including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. Some examples include: guiding a person who is blind or has low vision; alerting a person with a hearing loss to certain sounds; picking up or retrieving objects; and providing physical support or assistance with balance.

Yes, Colorado law, section 24-34-803, C.R.S., provides that a person with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a service animal specially trained for that person as a reasonable accommodation or a trainer of a service animal, or an individual with a disability accompanied by an animal that is being trained to be a service animal, has the right to be accompanied by the service animal in training.

The service animal or service animal in training must be permitted to accompany the individual with a disability or trainer to all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. An individual with a service animal or service animal in training may not be segregated from other customers.

The care and supervision of the service animal is the sole responsibility of the owner. The court is not required to provide care, food or a special location for the animal.

A service animal or service animal in training may be excluded from the courthouse if there is reason to believe the animal's behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. A service animal or service animal in training that displays vicious behavior towards other customers may be excluded. In addition, a court is not required to accommodate a service animal or service animal in training if it would result in a fundamental alteration to the nature of the business. A service animal or service animal in training that barks during a hearing may be excluded. In the event the service animal is excluded, the individual with the disability should be given the option of continuing his or her participation in the court services.

Restitution is an order made by the court holding offenders accountable for the financial losses they caused to the victims of their crimes. Restitution is a final judgment that does not expire. There is no statute of limitations for collecting court-ordered restitution. 

The prosecuting attorney must request that the court order restitution upon conviction. Each District Attorney’s Office (DA) has a Victim Advocate as a point of contact for victims of crime. It is important for any victim seeking restitution to contact the Victim Advocate in the prosecuting DA’s Office. 

The court's authority to modify restitution is limited. Victims requesting an increase in restitution must contact the prosecuting DA’s office to ask for assistance. Restitution may only be decreased with consent of the prosecuting attorney and the victim(s) or if the offender has otherwise compensated the victim(s) per Section 18-1.3-603, C.R.S.

The collection of restitution can take place over a length of time and depends on the amount owed and the offender’s financial status and ability to pay. As a practical matter, an offender who has no money or potential to make money may be less likely to make meaningful restitution payments.

Court-ordered restitution is due the day it is ordered and must be paid to the Clerk of Court. The offender is directed to meet with a Collections Investigator to establish a payment plan if they are unable to pay in full the day restitution is ordered. The payment plan will include details such as the amount of restitution and any interest owed, payment amounts, and payment due dates.

If an offender is eligible for a Colorado State income tax refund, or other monies disbursed by the state, the court will intercept the money and apply it to the balance owed.

All sentences with restitution orders entered on or after September 1, 2000 are subject to simple interest at the rate of 8% per year. Interest is assessed monthly and calculated on the outstanding restitution principal amount, with limited exceptions noted in Section 18-1.3-603, C.R.S. Interest continues to accrue as long as there is an outstanding restitution principal balance. 

Collections Investigators will use escalating enforcement measures to prompt payment. These measures may include phone calls, emails and letters, assessment of late fees and costs, garnishment of wages or other assets, along with other available remedies. 

Collections Investigators and the Office of Restitution Services are available to answer questions, regardless of an offender’s status.

However, responsibility for collection of restitution transfers to the Department of Corrections or the Division of Youth Services while the offender is in custody of that facility. Payments continue to be sent to the Clerk of Court for disbursement to victims. Please contact the appropriate department listed below for additional information:

Department of Corrections
Inmate Banking
PO Box 230
Canyon City, CO 81215
Phone: (719) 269-4271 or (719) 269-4052
doc_inmateaccounts@state.co.us

Division of Youth Services
4255 South Knox Court
Denver, CO 80236
Spiro Koinis, Victim Services
Phone: (303) 866-7852 or (720) 810-3003
spiro.koinis@state.co.us