Colorado Springs Juvenile Crime Defense Attorney
Colorado Juvenile Court System: Overview
Colorado was one of the first states to create a separate system specifically for the needs of juveniles (young people ages 10 to 17-years-old) who have been charged with a crime or other infraction under state law. Today, the Colorado juvenile court system deals with a wide range of issues, from serious juvenile felony charges to issues such as expulsion or suspension from school.
When a child is taken into custody on suspicion of breaking a state or local law, the state must notify the young person's parents. The young person may be released to their parents or may be held in a juvenile-specific facility if they are suspected of committing a violent or weapons-related crime. If the juvenile is not released, they receive screening in order to determine what sort of placement–such as a shelter or juvenile detention facility–is most appropriate. Some young people may be released to their parents after screening, if the specific facts of the young person's case warrant it. Juveniles who are kept in state facilities must have a court hearing within 48 hours to determine whether it is appropriate for them to be held.
Meanwhile, the district attorney reviews the accusations against the young person and decides whether or not to file a petition in juvenile court or, in the most severe cases, to file criminal charges in the district court, where the young person may be tried as an adult. Some cases can be handled informally between the district attorney and the young person's family or their Colorado juvenile defense lawyer. These cases typically involve minor offenses that represent a momentary lapse in judgment by the young person, rather than a pattern of misbehavior.
If a case is filed in juvenile or district court, the young person and their family have the right to be represented by an experienced Colorado criminal defense attorney. If the young person is found not to be guilty of the acts they are accused of, they may go home and the proceedings are over. If a young person is found guilty, however, the court then makes a presentence investigation of the case, considering factors like the stability of the young person's home life, their likelihood of succeeding in a reform program, probation, or another setting, and how likely he or she is to violate the law in the future. Juveniles and their families may be allowed to present evidence on these points to the court before a final decision is made.
Colorado's juvenile justice system is intended to help young people understand the consequences of their actions and make better choices in the future. However, each young person who faces the juvenile justice system has their own specific needs. An experienced Colorado Springs juvenile defense attorney like Timothy Bussey can build a defense that protects the young person's rights while also seeking an outcome that best fits the facts of the case and the individual juvenile's needs. To learn more, contact The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. today.
Colorado Springs Juvenile Offenses lawyer Timothy Bussey at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. in Colorado represents clients in Colorado Springs and throughout El Paso County, including the cities of Fountain, Manitou Springs, and Monument.
The Bussey Law Firm, P.C.
12 E. Boulder Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 475-2555
Fax: (719) 475-0046
