16-8.5-108. Evidence

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CO Code › Title 16 › Article 8.5 › Section 16-8.5-108

This text was captured on Aug 14, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

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16-8.5-108. Evidence. (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (1), evidence acquired directly or indirectly for the first time from a communication derived from the defendant's mental processes during the course of a competency evaluation or involuntary medication proceeding is not admissible against the defendant on the issues raised by a plea of not guilty, or, if the offense occurred before July 1, 1995, a plea of not guilty by reason of impaired mental condition. Such evidence may be admissible at trial to rebut evidence introduced by the defendant of the defendant's mental condition to show incapacity of the defendant to form a culpable mental state; and, in such case, the evidence may only be considered by the trier of fact as bearing upon the question of capacity to form a culpable mental state, and the jury shall be so instructed at the request of either party.

(b) Evidence acquired directly or indirectly for the first time from a communication derived from the defendant's mental processes during the course of a competency evaluation or involuntary medication proceeding is admissible at any sentencing hearing held pursuant to section 18-1.3-1201 for an offense charged prior to July 1, 2020, or pursuant to section 18-1.3-1302 for an offense charged prior to July 1, 2020, or pursuant to section 18-1.4-102 only to prove the existence or absence of any mitigating factor.

(c) If the defendant testifies on the defendant's own behalf upon the trial of the issues raised by the plea of not guilty or, for offenses that occurred before July 1, 1995, a plea of not guilty by reason of impaired mental condition, or at a sentencing hearing held pursuant to section 18-1.3-1201 for an offense charged prior to July 1, 2020, or pursuant to section 18-1.3-1302 for an offense charged prior to July 1, 2020, or pursuant to section 18-1.4-102, this section does not bar any evidence used to impeach or rebut the defendant's testimony.

(2) In any hearing concerning competency to proceed or restoration to competency, competency evaluators and other experts may testify as to the conclusions reached from their examination of hospital records, laboratory reports, X rays, electroencephalograms, and psychological test results if the material that the evaluators or experts examined in reaching their conclusions is produced at the time of the hearing. Nothing in this section prevents the parties from obtaining the information authorized by section 16-8.5-104 prior to the hearing.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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