Juvenile Crimes

Statistics on Juvenile Crime in Colorado

According to the Colorado Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), there were a total of 11,080 arrests for juvenile crimes in 2011, a figure which constitutes .02% of the 541,013 Coloradans between the ages of 10-17 statewide.

The rate of juvenile crimes in Colorado is on the decrease, thanks in large part to increased activities on the part of law enforcement agencies throughout the state. For example, violent crime arrests are down by 67% since 1980, and property crime arrests are down 73% per the DCJ.

The Juvenile Justice Process in Colorado Springs, CO

This may be an intensely stressful and worrisome experience for your family, but by understanding what to expect throughout the process you can improve your chances of successfully extracting your child from the juvenile justice system.

The process begins with taking the suspect into custody. At this point, he or she may be released directly into the custody of the parents if the law enforcement officer deems this to be appropriate, or the suspect may be taken into detention. There will shortly be a hearing to review the case, and again this may result in the suspect being released to the parents, either directly or after posting bail. Alternatively, the suspect may continue to be detained.

The District Attorney will perform a preliminary investigation to evaluate the merits of the case, and if he or she decides to file charges there will an advisement in court at which the charges will be read to the suspect. The next step is the preliminary hearing, at which the defendant will be asked to enter a plea, guilty or not guilty. It may be possible at this stage to have the charges dismissed based on problems with the evidence or similar issues, or the defense attorney may negotiate a plea bargain which involves a deferred adjudication involving a diversion program. Alternatively, the case may proceed to trial.

Enlist the Help of a Colorado Springs Juvenile Crime Attorney

The juvenile justice system follows a similar route to the adult criminal process, with a significant difference that the juvenile courts are focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment. By involving an attorney from Clawson & Clawson, LLP as early as possible, you may be able to have the situation resolved swiftly and with a minimum of damage to your child's reputation and future career.