Do you have a child who is facing criminal charges in Colorado? If so, it is important to find a skilled Colorado criminal defense attorney. Juvenile criminal cases are treated differently than adult criminal cases. However, some severe juvenile cases are tried in Colorado’s criminal courts. No matter what your situation is or which legal stage your case is currently in, our skilled attorneys can help you determine the best course of action.
At Koziel & Lehr Law, we have experience assisting adult and juvenile defendants and their families. Our team of family and criminal law attorneys is here to help you navigate the complexities of Colorado’s court systems. Juvenile criminal charges can have a significant impact on the future of a young person. Don’t let a legal mistake get in the way of your child’s bright future! Call us today at (720) 314-8750.
About Juvenile Defense in Colorado
In Colorado, any minor under the age of 18 years old accused of criminal behavior can be tried in Juvenile Court. In serious cases, children could even be tried as adults. If a juvenile is tried as an adult, they will be taken through the Colorado Criminal Court system. In situations like these, an experienced criminal defense attorney is highly recommended.
Juveniles can face the same kinds of criminal charges as adults. Charges including assault, disturbance of the peace, noise violations, minor in possession of alcohol, and drug charges are common among minors in Colorado.
Your juvenile criminal defense attorney can help you find the best strategies to get charges reduced or dropped. Therefore, if you are the parent of a minor who is being charged in juvenile or criminal court, it is always wise to retain a skilled lawyer.
Can juvenile offenders avoid prosecution in court?
Juvenile offenders can sometimes avoid prosecution by participating in certain diversion programs and correctional activities. However, for these programs to be available, certain case terms must be met.
As such, it is helpful to have an experienced defender on your side. Your juvenile defense attorney can explain to the court why a child should be cleared of charges or allowed to participate in diversion programs.
How is the Juvenile Justice System different from criminal court in Colorado?
The Juvenile Court system in Colorado handles cases involving defendants who are under the age of 18 at the time an alleged crime is committed. Alternatively, those who are over the age of 18 at the time that alleged crimes occur are charged in adult Criminal Court.
In Juvenile Court, the focus is primarily on preventing recurrences of criminal behaviors and redirecting the paths of minors. Juvenile Court priorities include diversion, prevention, and rehabilitation. On the other hand, in Criminal Court, sentences for convictions usually include punitive measures, fines, and incarceration.
What happens when a minor gets arrested?
The arrest process for juveniles in Colorado varies depending on the severity of any alleged crimes committed. If a minor under 18 is arrested in Colorado, police officers will usually notify the legal guardians or parents as soon as possible.
If it is determined that a juvenile must remain incarcerated, the Colorado Juvenile Court system will hold a detention hearing. During hearing proceedings, a judge will decide if there is enough probable cause to continue the detainment of said minor.
Can minors post bail in Colorado?
If a juvenile is being detained in a Colorado jail, a judge will be allowed to decide whether to keep detaining them or grant bail. The judge may also grant personal recognizance release. If personal recognizance release is granted, the minor will not have to post bail to leave jail.
What is juvenile supervised pretrial release?
If a judge chooses to release a minor, it may be on pretrial release. Supervised pretrial release is similar to supervised probation. With a supervised pretrial release, juveniles must meet certain terms until they go to court.
Terms of pretrial release may include:
- Rehabilitation
- Random drug testing
- GPS / ankle monitor
- Home visits
- House arrest
Juvenile defendants who violate the terms of their supervised pretrial release risk being detained in a juvenile detention center. They will then remain in the juvenile detention center until the outcome of their case is decided.
How can you get a child out of a juvenile detention center?
After a child’s arrest, they will receive their first trial hearing known as the detention hearing. At this time, your juvenile defense attorney can argue for a minor’s pretrial release from a juvenile detention center. A judge will be more likely to grant your minor release from a detention center if certain conditions are met.
A child will be more likely to get released from a juvenile detention center if:
- They have a stable and safe home environment
- The child is known for following household rules
- The alleged offense does not justify incarceration
- There are legal guardians or family members available to look after a minor
- The juvenile offender previously had a clean criminal record
- The child is not at risk of running away from home
- The minor defendant is likely to show up for future court dates
- Any posted bail has been paid
Sometimes, a judge will initially decide to continue detaining a minor. However, your defense attorney can always request that the judge reconsider releasing the minor defendant later.
There are many reasons to choose us for juvenile defense in the Denver area. Koziel & Lehr Law LLC was formed by two former public defenders. We are passionate about zealously advocating for their clients!
By practicing in criminal defense in Colorado Springs, Denver, and the Denver Metro area, Ms. Koziel and Ms. Lehr have collaboratively developed a broad understanding of the jurisdictional issues our juvenile clients face. We formed Koziel & Lehr Law LLC because we are serious about working to achieve the best results for our clients as juveniles or adults.
Finally, we take a holistic approach to our juvenile cases. We develop mitigation and work with social workers and investigators to present the full picture of our juvenile clients’ lives. We believe that juvenile offenses should not ruin the future of children. Let us work hard to defend you in court now! Call today to schedule a case consultation and find out if and how we can assist you.
Need a Colorado Juvenile Defense Attorney? Call the Denver Juvenile Defense Lawyers at Koziel & Lehr Law LLC!
Having an experienced juvenile defense attorney on your side can help you achieve the best possible outcome for your child’s criminal allegations. We look forward to helping you in all of your criminal or family law matters.
Call Koziel & Lehr Law LLC for a Juvenile Defense Consultation at (720) 314-8750.