Summer brings fun times and relaxation to most Colorado kids, but it can also be the time some minors have run-ins with the law. We’ll show you what kind of crimes to watch out for with your child, and what
to do if your kid gets into trouble.
Most Common Juvenile Crimes in Colorado
These are the most common types of crimes Colorado juveniles commit.
- Graffiti or tagging
- Slashing tires
- Keying vehicles
- Damaging a mailbox
- Disturbing the peace
- Egging a car or building
- Toilet-papering property
- Loitering
- Littering
- Indecent exposure
- Violating curfew
- Hanging onto a moving car
- Riding in the bed of a pickup truck
- Operating a vehicle without a license
- Operating a vehicle without the owner’s permission
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Failing to wear a seatbelt
- Leaving the city or state without a parent’s permission
- Trespassing
- Resisting an officer
- Shoplifting
- Larceny
- Possessing stolen property
- Simple assault
- Making harassing phone calls
- Calling a false alarm
- Using a fake ID
- Committing identity theft
- Forgery
- Stalking
- Burglary
- Possessing or distributing alcohol
- Possessing or distributing tobacco
- Possessing or distributing illegal drugs
- Possessing a weapon
An experienced Denver criminal attorney can help you if your child has been accused of any of these crimes.
The goal of the Colorado juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate, rather than issue criminal punishments as in the adult criminal justice system.
After a juvenile is taken into custody, the judge will commonly order alternative sentencing. Your child may be required to complete restitution, rehabilitation courses, treatment programs, and/or community service hours. The sentence may also include mandatory counseling and probation.
For more serious crimes, juveniles may be tried as adults. It all depends on the details of your child’s case, and whether the judge believes your child acted with criminal intent.
If Your Child Commits a Crime in Colorado
The following process is set in motion:
First, your child will either receive a citation or be taken into custody, depending on the seriousness of the crime.
Then a juvenile probation officer will take on the case and assess the risk level. At this point, you may be able to take your child home with you. Otherwise, your child will be moved to a juvenile detention center.
Within 24 hours of being taken into custody, your child will appear before a judge in the juvenile court system for a hearing. The judge will then decide whether to try your child as an adult or issue alternative sentencing.
Another hearing will determine whether your child was delinquent. If the answer is yes, the judge will determine your child’s length of stay in a detention center. If the answer is no, your child may receive probationary sentencing.
How a Skilled Colorado Juvenile Crimes Attorney Can Help
No parent wants to see their child commit a crime. However, if your adolescent or teen is in trouble with the law, you can count on a knowledgeable Colorado juvenile crimes attorney to guide your family through the legal process.
If your child has been taken into custody, you need to call a skilled lawyer right away for a free case review. We will carefully review the facts of your case and work to build a strong defense against the charges.
We will work hard to protect your family’s rights and reputation during the entire process.
About the Author:
Kimberly Diego is a criminal defense attorney in Denver practicing at The Law Office of Kimberly Diego. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and her law degree at the University of Colorado. She was named one of Super Lawyers’ “Rising Stars of 2012” and “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Colorado” for 2012 and 2013 by The National Trial Lawyers. Both honors are limited to a small percentage of practicing attorneys in each state. She has also been recognized for her work in domestic violence cases.
