Juveniles over the age of 10 who commit a crime can be criminally charged and tried in the Greeley, Colorado, court.  If your child has been charged with a crime, they’ll need to be represented by a top criminal defense lawyer at the Greeley and Weld County Courthouse.  While juvenile courts tend to focus more on rehabilitating children and teenaged defendants, they can still accumulate a disabling criminal record.  Your Juvenile defense attorney can work to limit the type and duration of any criminal record.

Weld County Juvenile Crimes and Related Topics

How Does the Juvenile Court System Work?

Below is further information on the Weld County Juvenile court system, as well as:

• Juvenile Detention Center
• Juvenile Direct Filing
• Juvenile Record Expungement
• Sexting / Posting, Possession, or Exchange of a Private Image by a Juvenile,R.S. 18-7-109
• Illegal Possession or Consumption of Alcohol or Marijuana by an Underage Person, C.R.S. 18-13-122
• Sexual Assault on a Child, C.R.S. 18-3-405

Juveniles’ Rights in Greeley – Help Your Child to Be Smart, and Stay Silent

It’s important to remember that in Greeley, a juvenile who has been arrested has the same rights as an adult.  These include the rights to:

• Remain silent and not talk to Greeley Police without a lawyer present.
• Have an attorney present for all Weld County Court appearances.

Helping your child understand their rights will make all the difference in their case.  While we want young children to know that the police can help them, as they enter their teenage years, teens should be taught that the police officer’s main job is to enforce the law.  The police are not their friends.  Teenagers should not be giving statements or answering questions for police officers. And, parents should not be giving consent to their children talking with the police.  Talk to your child about these rights so that they can protect themselves.  If police ask to talk to your kids, contact a juvenile defense lawyer with experience defending teens and juveniles at the Weld County Court.

Weld County Juvenile Defendants vs. Adult Defendants

What is the Difference Between Juvenile Cases and Adult Cases in Colorado Courts?

The Weld County Court usually treats Juvenile cases differently than adult cases.  Juvenile court  is a specialty court  with a greater focus on rehabilitation for juvenile defendants.  For adult defendants, the Courts seek to appropriately punish offenders and protect society.  By contrast, the Juvenile court seeks to best help the child to keep  from engaging in further criminal conduct.  This often means that an adult may face penalties like Weld County Jail or Department of Corrections incarceration and fines.  However, a juvenile charged with the same offense could instead be required to take mandatory classes or attend group therapy.

What is an Adjudication in Greeley Court?

Sentencing in Juvenile Court Cases

In Greeley, adjudication is a term synonymous to conviction in adult court.  When a juvenile is adjudicated of a crime, it means that he has been found guilty by a plea, judge or jury.  The juvenile’s sentence will normally be less harsh than an adults, with the expectation that kids are still growing and learning.  Education is a primary goal of any juvenile sentence, unless the crime is severe, such as one involving sex or violence.  Crimes with the use of a weapon will result in a more harsh sentence.  In addition to lighter penalties, juveniles are more likely to be allowed to have their record expunged.  When a juvenile’s record is expunged, their record will be sealed and won’t be available for public review and scrutiny.  This will limit the negative impacts of an adjudication for the rest of their life.  If a juvenile is tried as an adult, however, their record may not be eligible for expungement.

Weld County Direct Filing and Transfers

When are Juveniles Tried as Adults?

In some cases, a juvenile can be tried and sentenced as an adult in the Weld County Court in what is known as a direct filing or transfer.  When this happens, it is because the juvenile is suspected to have committed a class 1 or 2 felony, or a crime of violence.  These offenses include, but are not limited to:

• Aggravated Robbery
• Kidnapping
• Murder
• Assault in the Second Degree
• Some sexual offenses, such as Sexual Assault and felony Unlawful Sexual Contact

When the Weld County Court District Attorney considers whether to charge a juvenile as an adult, he will take into account the serious nature of the crime, the juvenile’s age and their prior criminal history.

Why Hire a Top Weld County Criminal Defense Lawyer for Juvenile Charges?

While the Weld County Court may be more lenient with a juvenile than an adult, you should still hire a top criminal defense lawyer for your child’s charges.  Depending on your child’s charges, she could face a plethora of different legal consequences.  Such penalties could include incarceration at the Plate Valley Youth Services Center, fines, and mandatory participation in classes and therapy.  Your child could also face other consequences, such as expulsion from school.  These penalties will skyrocket if your child is tried as an adult at the Weld County Court.

If your child is facing criminal charges, it’s important to seek the best Greeley criminal defense lawyer to protect their future.  Our experienced and compassionate criminal defense attorneys fight for their young clients with the same ferocity and compassion as they do for their adult clients.  Don’t tackle the Weld County Juvenile Court and District Attorneys alone.  Call us, and we can protect your child’s future by representing them with their innocence in mind at the Weld County Courthouse.