When a juvenile is arrested in Colorado, the child may be released to a parent or responsible adult, referred for detention screening, or held for a prompt detention hearing. If the child remains in custody, the hearing generally must occur within 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The district attorney then decides whether to file a delinquency petition, offer diversion, or decline to prosecute formally. Decisions made during
It is well established law that the police cannot legally stop your vehicle without reasonable suspicion. Where matters become a little less clear is the law that holds that once the purpose of the initial stop of a defendant’s vehicle has been accomplished, and no other reasonable suspicion exists to support further investigation, any ongoing detention of the defendant and his vehicle is illegal. A recently decided Colorado Supreme Court,
