The juvenile justice system in Boulder is focused heavily on rehabilitation. After all, teenagers and young children make mistakes and those mistakes should not necessarily define their entire lives. Instead of punishment, the Colorado Children’s Code guidelines focus on education, providing resources for troubled youth and making sure they have adequate supervision to remain out of trouble. However, there are times when the mistake is too great and punishment is necessary. When that occurs, juveniles could be tried in adult court for their crimes and they could face significant time behind bars.

According to Colorado law, a juvenile is anyone between the ages of 10 and 18. The majority of juvenile arrests in Colorado are for relatively minor offenses, such as truancy, vandalism, shoplifting, or possession of alcohol or marijuana. When a juvenile is arrested, the judge will determine the appropriate sentencing for that child. Some of the sentencing options for minors that have been adjudicated for any crime include:

• Placement with another suitable relative
• Placement in a department of corrections facility
• Probation
• Detention
• Placement with Department of Human Services
• Restitution to victim
• Fines
• Community service

In some extreme cases, a juvenile can be tried as an adult in an adult court of law. However, before a juvenile case can be sent to adult court, they must meet the following criteria:

• Be over the age of 16
• Committed a felony offense
• History of delinquency
• Have DA approval

If your child is in a juvenile detention hall such as the Adams Youth Services Center, the Mountain View Youth Services Center, Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center, Platte Valley Youth Services Center, Spring Creek Youth Services Center, Pueblo Youth Services Center or the Gilliam Youth Services Center, we can help to get them released back home or with a qualified relative

Contact Our Boulder Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyers

If your child has been arrested and charged with a juvenile criminal offense, they could face serious consequences. You need an experienced juvenile defense lawyer on your side from the start to help keep your child out of the adult court system. In addition, your attorney can advocate for a complete dismissal of charges, especially if this is your child’s first offense. Contact the Boulder juvenile defense lawyers at Steven Louth Law Offices today for a free consultation and review of your case. Call us at (303) 422-2297 to start building a solid defense against these serious criminal charges.