JUVENILE CRIMES
Juvenile crimes in Colorado are handled in a very different way from crimes involving adults. The state of Colorado has created a very complex process for dealing with juvenile offenders, and which follows a slightly different path than adult offenders go through. The juvenile process is mostly geared towards rehabilitation of the youthful offenders vs. the more punitive nature of the adult process. The process for juveniles also includes more and different steps as compared to the process for adult offenders. An attorney who understands the juvenile process, and all of the steps and the players is key to successfully defending a juvenile who has been charged.
If your child has been accused of a crime, you need an experienced attorney on your side. Call the firm at (303) 552-1720, or click on the button below to schedule consultation appointment.
Juvenile Court Process
The process begins with an arrest and detention hearing, where most juvenile are released to their parents or a guardian. The next step involves the District Attorney determining if there is a need to move forward with the case at all, whether the juvenile should be placed into a diversion program, or if the full charges should be brought and the juvenile put through the juvenile court process.
When a District Attorney moves forward with charges on a case, the charges are brought as a part of a petition for delinquency of a minor. This process is similar to an adult being formally charged, but there are many more layers and individuals involved in the case.
For minors who go the diversion route, they are often placed into treatment and work their way towards having their case dismissed and expunged with the successful completion of the diversion program. for the minors who are not offered diversion, they are formally charged under the delinquency process. The delinquency process is more like the adult adjudicative process, and if no plea is agreed upon, then the minor will face an adjudicatory hearing or trial, depending on the specific charge(s). If a juvenile loses at that hearing, then they face sentencing, which can include incarceration in a juvenile facility, and also treatment and probation, among other sanctions.
Juvenile cases often involve issues of placement of the minor child during the adjudicatory process, which can involve caseworkers from the County Department of Human Services, the County Attorney, a Gurdian ad Litem appointed by the court on behalf of the juvenile defendant, and even an officer with the Pretrial Services who will be checking in on the accused minor and their family. The process for a minor going through a delinquency charge is very invasive for the minor and their family. The consequences do not stop with the minor, and can include sanction on parents/guardians of the minor too. An experienced defense attorney, with a solid knowledge of the juvenile court process is a must.
Juvenile Charges Expungement of Record
Juvenile charges can include most all of the charges an adult can be charged with, but may also include charges specific to minors, such as a Minor in Possession of Alcohol, or specific driving charges that prohibit minors from having additional passengers. There are a number of charges that prohibit minors from specific conduct. Minors may also be charged as adults, and in some limited circumstances a juvenile can be charged as an adult.
The more important question for most juvenile offenders is whether their record may be expunged after any diversion or adjudication is completed. The answer is that most juvenile records and adjudications can be expunged, depending on the charges and the specific means that their case was adjudicated in the juvenile court system. It is extremely important to have the help of an experienced defense attorney as you and your child navigate the juvenile justice system. Call the firm at (303) 552-1720 right away to get assistance with your child’s case.