Colorado Springs Gang Violence – How serious is it?

Gang violence in Colorado Springs leads to at least a couple of killings every year.

There was a significant spike in gang-related shootings in the Aurora area in 2023. That same year several suspected gang-members were indicted on hundreds of crimes, including murder, they allegedly committed in Commerce City and Denver.¹

Some of these gangs include the Crips, the Bloods, the South Side Surenos, and the Nortenos.

According to law enforcement agencies, much of the violence is gang-on-gang. They pose more of a threat to each other than to the general public. Though bystander casualties remain a concern when rival gangs fight, especially during drive-by shootings and crossfires.²

In 2019, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) recreated its Gang Unit after disbanding it three years earlier. The Gang Unit has four detectives overseen by one sergeant. The Unit serves to provide intel to police officers regarding gang-related criminal activity with the mission of protecting the public from gang problems and promoting public safety.³

Below I discuss what you need to know about gang violence in Colorado and related criminal charges. Also listen to our informative podcast on the subject:

What defines a gang in Colorado?

Colorado criminal street gangs are groups of three-plus members whose intention is to commit serious crimes, and they engage in a “pattern of criminal gang activity.” A pattern of criminal gang activity is defined as:

[T]he commission, attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation of two or more predicate criminal acts which are committed on separate occasions or by two or more persons.

These predicate criminal acts include either:

• any conduct defined as racketeering activity in CRS 18-17-103 (5); and/or
  
• retaliation against a witness or crime victim in violation of CRS 18-8-706.⁴

Gangs usually are comprised of high school-aged young men, but they can be older. Typical examples of gang-related criminal conduct include violent crimes such as assault and illegal discharge of a firearm (CRS 18-12-107.5) but also property crimes such as criminal mischief (CRS 18-4-501), vandalism, and defacing property. It is not unusual for members to have to commit a crime as part of a gang initiation.

Depending on the case, alleged gang members face prosecution in federal courts in addition to – or instead of – state courts. This typically occurs when the gangs are allegedly involved in high-level drug trafficking or money laundering. The FBI often gets involved, a U.S. attorney would prosecute, and penalties include time in federal prison.

Are gang crimes punished more severely?

Colorado has no statutory sentencing enhancement for criminal offenses committed in furtherance of gangs. Consequently, gang members and non-gang members alike face identical sentencing ranges for committing the same crimes. But note that a defendant’s gang involvement may come in as evidence during a sentencing hearing if it is connected to the nature of the crime and the defendant’s character.⁵

Is gang recruitment a crime in Colorado?

Colorado law makes it a class 2 misdemeanor to knowingly solicit, invite, recruit, encourage, coerce, or otherwise cause a child under 18 to actively participate in or become a member of a criminal street gang. Penalties are up to 120 days in jail and/or up to $750.

Meanwhile, it is a class 1 misdemeanor to, by use of force, threat, or intimidation directed at any person, or by the infliction of bodily injury upon any person, knowingly prevent a child under 18 from leaving a criminal street gang. Penalties are up to 364 days in jail and/or up to $1,000.

Learn more about recruiting or encouraging people under 18 years old into gang membership (CRS 18-23-102).⁶

Additional Resources

For information about gang violence prevention, refer to the following:

1. National Gang Center – A program of the U.S. Department of Justice that conducts research, collects data, and provides training and resources to inform efforts to prevent and intervene against gang violence and crimes.
2. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – Government program that supports states, local communities, and tribal jurisdictions in their efforts to develop and implement effective programs for juveniles through research, grants, and technical assistance.
3. Gang Prevention: An Overview of Research and Programs – A Youth.gov article about how organizations are trying to prevent gangs and gang violence.
4. Homeboy Industries – The world’s biggest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program.

Legal References