Thankfully in Colorado, lawmakers have implemented a Children’s Code that oversees the procedures and consequences involved when a juvenile is charged with a crime. Juvenile crimes are seen as mistakes and the overall mindset of the juvenile court is to rehabilitate the child, not overly punish as they do in adult court. This is not, however, always the case. Juvenile violent crimes and sex related offenses are seen more seriously in the eyes of the court and can be treated differently under the guise of public safety. Overall, juvenile crimes are treated less harshly than identical adult crimes.
Weld County Juvenile Crimes Lawyer: Can My Child Go to Jail?
The short answer is yes. Jail for juveniles is called ‘detention.’ Many times, when a child is accused of a violent or sexual crime in Weld, Morgan or Logan County, they will be arrested. This means they will probably make their first court appearance in custody. Sometimes, experienced juvenile defense attorneys, like those at the O’Malley Law Office, are able to argue for the child’s release to the supervision of their parents while the case is on-going. When it comes to sentencing felony juvenile cases, children can be sentenced to the Colorado Department of Youth Corrections (DYC). DYC can hold your child until the age of 21, depending on the length of the sentence given by the judge. In some cases, at 18 years of age, your child is transferred to the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Greeley Juvenile Court Lawyer: Can My Child’s Record Be Sealed?
Expungement is the term used to seal the arrest and criminal record of a juvenile in Greeley, Erie, and Evans. Often, juvenile criminal records can be expunged. Generally, the process entails a one-year waiting period after the successful completion of the child’s sentence. In some cases, such as the completion of a deferred adjudication, a child can immediately seal their record. Then, the petition can be filed and a hearing will be held to determine if the child’s record can be expunged. Though not all juvenile records can be expunged, there are more opportunities for expungement in the juvenile system than record sealing in the adult court system. When we get involved in a juvenile case, we always try to resolve it with the future ability for your child’s record to be expunged. We want to protect your child and your family’s future.
If your son or daughter has been charged with a juvenile crime, be smart, exercise their right to remain silent, and contact the best juvenile criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 immediately. Together, we can protect you and your child’s future.
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