Colo. Rev. Stat. » Title 18
Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-301 (2026)

First degree kidnapping

✓ current as of July 2026
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(1) Any person who does any of the following acts with the intent thereby to force the victim or any other person to make any concession or give up anything of value in order to secure a release of a person under the offender's actual or apparent control commits first degree kidnapping:

(a) Forcibly seizes and carries any person from one place to another; or

(b) Entices or persuades any person to go from one place to another; or

(c) Imprisons or forcibly secretes any person.

(2) Whoever commits first degree kidnapping is guilty of a class 1 felony if the person kidnapped shall have suffered bodily injury; but no person convicted of first degree kidnapping shall suffer the death penalty if the person kidnapped was liberated alive prior to the conviction of the kidnapper.

(3) Whoever commits first degree kidnapping commits a class 2 felony if, prior to his conviction, the person kidnapped was liberated unharmed.

Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 421, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 40-3-301.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 57 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1976–2026 · leading case: People v. Naranjo, 612 P.2d 1099 (Colo. 1980).
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People v. Naranjo, 612 P.2d 1099 (Colo. 1980). · cites it 31× “Bridges, supra, for the reason that there was no evidence of asportation, an essential element of kidnapping as charged under section 18-3-301 (1)(a), C.R.S. 1973. By reason of this Bridges became only a first-degree sexual assault case under section 18-3-402, C.”
People v. Bridges, 612 P.2d 1110 (Colo. 1980). · cites it 27× “Section 18-3-301 (l)(a), C.R.S. 1973 (now in 1978 Repl.”
People v. Hines, 572 P.2d 467 (Colo. 1977). · cites it 15× ““(2) Whoever commits first degree kidnapping is guilty of a class 1 felony if the person kidnapped shall have suffered bodily injury; but no person convicted of first degree kidnapping shall suffer the death penalty if the person kidnapped was liberated alive prior to the…”
People v. Lowe, 660 P.2d 1261 (Colo. 1983). · cites it 6× “[2] Section 18-3-301, C.R.S.1973 (1978 Repl.Vol.”
Kaufman v. People, 202 P.3d 542 (Colo. 2009). · cites it 3× “Kidnapping, as defined by section 18-3-301, C.R.S. (2008), requires an "intent .”
People v. Morgan, 637 P.2d 338 (Colo. 1981). · cites it 8× “He argues that the acts allegedly constituting first-degree kidnapping were not done with the intent to force the victim to make any concession in order to secure a release of a person under his control as required by section 18-3-301, C.R.S.1973 (1978 Repl. Vol.”
People v. Lowe, 616 P.2d 118 (Colo. 1980). · cites it 6× “8), and first-degree kidnapping, section 18-3-301, C.R.S. 1973 (1978 Repl.”
People v. Valenzuela, 216 P.3d 588 (Colo. 2009). · cites it 6× “(2008), and first degree kidnapping—a class two felony— in violation of section 18-3-301(1)(a)(3), C.R.S. (2008).”
People v. San Emerterio, 839 P.2d 1161 (Colo. 1992). · cites it 11× “The court of appeals based its reversal on the conclusion that the victim’s agreement to perform an act “after her release and over which defendant had no control to insure her performance” did not constitute a “concession” within the meaning of the first-degree kidnapping…”
People v. Swanson, 638 P.2d 45 (Colo. 1981). · cites it 8× “The first-degree kidnapping statute, section 18-3-301, C.R.S.1973 (1978 Repl. Vol.”
People v. Cunningham, 570 P.2d 1086 (Colo. 1977). · cites it 6× “1973, provides: “No statements or admissions of a child made as a result of interrogation of the child by a law enforcement official concerning acts alleged to have been committed by the child which would constitute a crime if committed by an adult shall be admissible in…”
Idrogo v. People, 818 P.2d 752 (Colo. 1991). · cites it 4× “led or of receiving great bodily injury; or (b) The other person is using or reasonably appears about to use physical force against an occupant of a dwelling or business establishment while committing or attempting to commit burglary as defined in sections 18-4-202 to 18-4-204;…”
Show all 57 citing cases →
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-301(1) — 8 cases
People v. Naranjo, 612 P.2d 1099 (Colo. 1980). “Bridges, supra, for the reason that there was no evidence of asportation, an essential element of kidnapping as charged under section 18-3-301 (1)(a), C.R.S. 1973. By reason of this Bridges became only a first-degree sexual assault case under section 18-3-402, C.”
People v. Hines, 572 P.2d 467 (Colo. 1977). ““(2) Whoever commits first degree kidnapping is guilty of a class 1 felony if the person kidnapped shall have suffered bodily injury; but no person convicted of first degree kidnapping shall suffer the death penalty if the person kidnapped was liberated alive prior to the…”
People v. San Emerterio, 839 P.2d 1161 (Colo. 1992). “The court of appeals based its reversal on the conclusion that the victim’s agreement to perform an act “after her release and over which defendant had no control to insure her performance” did not constitute a “concession” within the meaning of the first-degree kidnapping…”
People v. Emerterio, 819 P.2d 516 (Colo. Ct. App. 1991).
People v. Haynie, 826 P.2d 371 (Colo. Ct. App. 1991).
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-301(1)(a) — 5 cases
People v. Naranjo, 612 P.2d 1099 (Colo. 1980). “Bridges, supra, for the reason that there was no evidence of asportation, an essential element of kidnapping as charged under section 18-3-301 (1)(a), C.R.S. 1973. By reason of this Bridges became only a first-degree sexual assault case under section 18-3-402, C.”
People v. Bridges, 612 P.2d 1110 (Colo. 1980). “Section 18-3-301 (l)(a), C.R.S. 1973 (now in 1978 Repl.”
v. Pratarelli, 2020 COA 33 (Colo. Ct. App. 2020).
People v. Kendall, 174 P.3d 791 (Colo. Ct. App. 2007).
Peo v. Hagos (Colo. Ct. App. 2024).
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-301(1)(a)(3) — 1 case
People v. Valenzuela, 216 P.3d 588 (Colo. 2009). “(2008), and first degree kidnapping—a class two felony— in violation of section 18-3-301(1)(a)(3), C.R.S. (2008).”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-301(1)(c) — 2 cases
Peo v. Clark (Colo. Ct. App. 2026).
Lucero v. City of Aurora (D. Colo. 2025).
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-301(2) — 8 cases
People v. Hines, 572 P.2d 467 (Colo. 1977). ““(2) Whoever commits first degree kidnapping is guilty of a class 1 felony if the person kidnapped shall have suffered bodily injury; but no person convicted of first degree kidnapping shall suffer the death penalty if the person kidnapped was liberated alive prior to the…”
People v. Cunningham, 570 P.2d 1086 (Colo. 1977). “1973, provides: “No statements or admissions of a child made as a result of interrogation of the child by a law enforcement official concerning acts alleged to have been committed by the child which would constitute a crime if committed by an adult shall be admissible in…”
People v. Weare, 155 P.3d 527 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006).
People v. Reynolds, 159 P.3d 684 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006).
People ex rel. Faulk v. Dist. Court of the Eleventh Jud. Dist. of Colorado, 667 P.2d 1384 (Colo. 1983).
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-301(3) — 3 cases
People v. Hines, 572 P.2d 467 (Colo. 1977). ““(2) Whoever commits first degree kidnapping is guilty of a class 1 felony if the person kidnapped shall have suffered bodily injury; but no person convicted of first degree kidnapping shall suffer the death penalty if the person kidnapped was liberated alive prior to the…”
Miller v. Dist. Court, 593 P.2d 1379 (Colo. 1979).
Miller v. Dist. Court, 593 P.2d 1379 (Colo. 1979).
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-301(8) — 1 case
People v. Weare, 155 P.3d 527 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006).
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-301(l)(a) — 2 cases
People v. Bridges, 612 P.2d 1110 (Colo. 1980). “Section 18-3-301 (l)(a), C.R.S. 1973 (now in 1978 Repl.”
People v. San Emerterio, 839 P.2d 1161 (Colo. 1992). “The court of appeals based its reversal on the conclusion that the victim’s agreement to perform an act “after her release and over which defendant had no control to insure her performance” did not constitute a “concession” within the meaning of the first-degree kidnapping…”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-301(l)(a)(3) — 1 case
People v. Valenzuela, 216 P.3d 588 (Colo. 2009). “(2008), and first degree kidnapping—a class two felony— in violation of section 18-3-301(1)(a)(3), C.R.S. (2008).”
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