Colo. Rev. Stat. § 16-3-405 (2026)

(1) No person arrested for a traffic or a petty offense shall be strip searched, prior to arraignment, unless there is reasonable belief that the individual is concealing a weapon or a controlled substance or that the individual, upon identification, is a parolee or an offender serving a sentence in any correctional facility in the state or that the individual is arrested for driving while under the influence of drugs.

(2) As used in this section, "strip search" means having an arrested person remove or arrange some or all of his or her clothing so as to permit a visual inspection of the genitals, buttocks, anus, or female breasts of such person.

(3) Any strip search that is conducted shall be performed by a person of the same sex as the arrested person and on premises where the search cannot be observed by persons not physically conducting the search.

(4) Every peace officer or employee of a police department or sheriff's department conducting a strip search shall obtain the written permission of the police commander or an agent thereof or a sheriff or an agent thereof designated for the purposes of authorizing a strip search in accordance with this section.

(5) No search of any body cavity other than the mouth shall be conducted without the written permission of the police commander or an agent thereof or a sheriff or an agent thereof authorizing a body cavity search. The search must be performed under sanitary conditions and conducted by a licensed physician or nurse.

(6) Any peace officer or employee of a police department or a sheriff's department who knowingly or intentionally fails to comply with any provision of this section commits second degree official misconduct, as defined in section 18-8-405, C.R.S. Nothing contained in this section shall preclude prosecution of a peace officer or employee of a police department or sheriff's department under any other provision of the law.

(7) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the statutory or common-law rights of any person for the purposes of any civil action or injunctive relief.

(8) The provisions of subsections (1) to (6) of this section shall not apply when, following arraignment and pursuant to a court order, the person is taken into custody by or remanded to a sheriff or a correctional facility.

Source: L. 82: Entire section added, p. 305, § 1, effective April 5.

Cross references: For definition of "controlled substance", see § 12-280-402 (1); for "driving under the influence" of any drug, see § 42-4-1301.

16-3-406. Custodial interrogation - admissibility - legislative declaration - definition. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:

(a) The United States constitution and the state constitution declare a privilege against self-incrimination and a right to counsel to be fundamental rights;

(b) Without procedural safeguards, custodial interrogation by law enforcement can lead to inherently compelling pressures that work to undermine the will of the individual subjected to the interrogation;

(c) Prior to custodial interrogation, an individual must be clearly and unequivocally apprised of the individual's rights;

(d) The exercise of these rights prior to or during custodial interrogation must be fully honored;

(e) In Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), the United States supreme court recognized procedural safeguards and that an advisement must be given prior to any custodial interrogation in order for statements from that custodial interrogation to be admitted at trial by the prosecution;

(f) The court further stated in Miranda that states are free to develop their own safeguards consistent with Miranda;

(g) In the decades that have followed Miranda v. Arizona, experience has demonstrated that procedural safeguards to inform individuals of their rights and to honor exercise of their rights are beneficial and just;

(h) Colorado should join other states that have codified such procedural safeguards; and

(i) It is the intent of the general assembly that Colorado should therefore provide independent statutory protection consistent with Miranda in no greater or lesser degree.

(2) As used in this section, "custodial interrogation" has the same meaning as set forth in section 16-3-601.

(3) A court shall not admit a statement made by the defendant as a result of a custodial interrogation as evidence against the defendant in any criminal trial unless the defendant, prior to making the statement, was advised in a manner that reasonably conveyed the following warnings:

(a) You have the right to remain silent;

(b) Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law;

(c) You have the right to consult a lawyer prior to questioning and have the lawyer present during questioning;

(d) If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, a lawyer will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you request one; and

(e) You can stop the interview and request to remain silent or request a lawyer at any time before or during questioning.

(4) When properly raised by the defendant pursuant to rules promulgated by the Colorado supreme court, the prosecution has the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant made a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of the rights described in subsection (3) of this section.

(5) Nothing in this section precludes the admission of a voluntary statement to impeach the credibility of the defendant as a witness.

(6) Nothing in this section precludes the admission of a voluntary statement when the prosecution proves by a preponderance of the evidence that an exception recognized through the progeny of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966) applies, including the public safety exception or booking exception.

Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (HB 23-1155), ch. 192, p. 963, § 1, effective July 1.

PART 5 WARRANTS AND BONDS FOR PERSONS ILLEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 2007 act enacting this part 5, see section 1 of chapter 397, Session Laws of Colorado 2007.