Colorado Code
Part 5 - Colorado Contraband Forfeiture Act
§ 16-13-505. Forfeiture Proceedings

(1.5) No judgment of forfeiture of property in any forfeiture proceeding shall be entered unless and until an owner of the property is convicted of an offense involving the conduct listed in section 16-13-503, or a lesser included offense of an eligible offense if the conviction is the result of a negotiated guilty plea. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the conviction to be obtained in the same jurisdiction as the jurisdiction in which the forfeiture action is brought. In the event criminal charges arising from the same activity giving rise to the forfeiture proceedings are filed against any individual claiming an interest in the property subject to the forfeiture proceeding, the trial and discovery phases of the forfeiture proceeding shall be stayed by the court until the disposition of the criminal charges. A stay shall not be maintained during an appeal or post-conviction proceeding challenging a criminal conviction. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or prevent the parties from contemporaneously resolving criminal charges and a forfeiture proceeding arising from the same activity.
(1.6) Upon acquittal or dismissal of a criminal action against a person named in a forfeiture action related to the criminal action, unless the forfeiture action was brought pursuant to one or more of paragraphs (a) to (f) of subsection (1.7) of this section, the forfeiture claim shall be dismissed and the seized property shall be returned as respects the subject matter property or interest therein of that person, if the case has been adjudicated as to all other claims, interests, and owners, unless possession of the property is illegal. If the forfeiture action is dismissed or judgment is entered in favor of the claimant, the claimant shall not be subject to any monetary charges by the state for storage of the property or expenses incurred in the preservation of the property, unless at the time of dismissal the plaintiff shows that those expenses would have been incurred to prevent waste of the property even if it had not been seized.
(1.7) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1.5) of this section:

(2.5) All forfeiture actions shall proceed in state district court if the property was seized by a local or state law enforcement agency as a result of an ongoing state criminal investigation and the owner is being prosecuted in state court. Unless, directed by an authorized agent of the federal government, no state or local law enforcement agency may transfer any property seized by the state or local agency to a federal agency for forfeiture under federal law unless an owner of the property is being prosecuted in federal court.

Source: L. 84: Entire part added, p. 507, § 1, effective July 1. L. 86: (2) amended, p. 735, § 5, effective July 1. L. 87: Entire section R&RE, p. 640, § 19, effective July 1. L. 93: (2), (3), (5), (7), (8), and (10) amended, p. 629, § 3, effective July 1. L. 2002: (1.5), (1.6), (1.7), and (2.5) added and (10)(b) amended, p. 927, § 10, effective July 1. L. 2003: (1.5), (1.6), (1.7), (4), and (5) amended, pp. 894, 907, 897, §§ 5, 20, 9, effective July 1. L. 2012: (2)(a), (2)(b), (2)(c), and (7) amended, (SB 12-175), ch. 208, p. 858, § 93, effective July 1.