Colorado Kidnapping Laws

Statutes

Colorado Revised Statutes:

• Section 18-3-301(First Degree Kidnapping)
• Section 18-3-302 (Second Degree Kidnapping)

First Degree Kidnapping

First Degree Kidnapping:

• Seizes and carries any person from one place to another; or
• Entices or persuades any person to go from one place to another; or
• Imprisons any person.

If the victim suffered bodily injury: Class 1 felony, punishable by life imprisonment or death. No death sentence for an individual convicted of first degree kidnapping if the victim was liberated alive prior to the conviction of the kidnapper.

If prior to conviction, the victim was liberated unharmed: Class 2 felony, punishable by up to 24 years imprisonment.

Second Degree Kidnapping

Second Degree Kidnapping: Individual does the following:

• Knowingly seizes and carries any person from one place to another, without their consent and without lawful justification; or
• Takes, entices, or decoys a minor (under age 18) who isn't their own child with intent to keep or conceal from their parent or with intent to sell, trader, or barter the child.

Class 2 Felony:

• The kidnapped person is a victim of a sexual offense; or
• The kidnapped person is a victim of a robbery.

Class 3 Felony:

• Kidnapping is accomplished with the intent to sell, trade, or barter the victim; or
• Kidnapping is accomplished by using a deadly weapon; or
• Kidnapping is accomplished with any item used in a manner to cause a reasonable person to believe the item is a deadly weapon;
• Kidnapping is accomplished by the perpetrator telling the victim that they are armed with a deadly weapon.

All other kidnappings are Class 4 felonies, punishable by up to 6 years imprisonment.

Related Offenses

Colorado Revised Statutes:

• Section 18-3-304 (Violation of Custody Order or Order Relating to Parental Responsibilities)
• Section 18-3-303 (False Imprisonment)