Serving People Throughout Colorado
Call Us For Free Consultation:
Regardless of a student’s exceptional academic performance throughout high school or impressive scores on standardized tests like the SATs, any record of juvenile conviction can significantly affect their college admission prospects. This consequence highlights the impact of criminal adjudication, even within the juvenile justice system.
If your child has undergone adjudication, it is essential to understand how it can impact their aspirations of securing admission to their desired college and how proactive measures can be taken to mitigate the potential repercussions and protect their educational opportunities. Our Juvenile criminal defense attorney is here to explain.
Juvenile offenses in Colorado are those committed by individuals under 18. The Colorado Juvenile Code governs the handling of juvenile cases, emphasizing rehabilitation and intervention rather than punitive measures.
However, this does not reduce the seriousness of juvenile offenses, especially when considering their implications for future opportunities such as college admissions.
More than half of public colleges and universities incorporate questions about applicants’ criminal histories into their admission forms. This proportion rises to between 60 to 80 percent for private institutions. Among two-year community colleges, about half include queries regarding students’ criminal backgrounds, while most four-year colleges opt for conducting comprehensive background checks.
These questions typically include offenses committed during the applicant’s juvenile years. Students may be required to disclose details concerning prior arrests, whether charges were pressed, their disposition (dropped charges or verdict), and their innocence or guilt.
Students must respond truthfully to these inquiries. Institutions that pose such questions typically conduct background checks regardless, which would reveal any past arrests. Any disparities between a student’s application responses and the findings of a background check could adversely affect the student’s prospects.
For many families, funding a college education entirely out of pocket is financially unattainable, leading students to rely heavily on financial aid in various forms, such as scholarships, grants, and loans. Regrettably, a juvenile criminal record could jeopardize your child’s eligibility for assistance.
Federal student loans and grants serve as primary avenues for student financial assistance, often constituting the sole means for students to afford their educational expenses. However, the Federal Government imposes restrictions on certain students with a criminal history, barring them from accessing federal grants and loans.
If your child has been convicted of a drug-related offense or a sex crime, their eligibility for federal financial aid may be curtailed. Nonetheless, your child may still qualify for financial aid for other offenses, provided they are not incarcerated during their time in school.
In some cases, you can take measures to remove the charges from your child’s record so they do not impact their acceptance into college or the provision of financial aid.
While many juvenile criminal records are automatically sealed or expunged once offenders reach adulthood, this may not always be the case, depending on individual circumstances. For this reason, we strongly advise former juvenile offenders to seek guidance from a skilled juvenile criminal defense attorney. They can assist in ensuring that juvenile records are properly expunged or sealed, allowing individuals to move forward with a clean slate.
Since the consequences of juvenile crimes can linger well into adulthood, it is vital to address any juvenile charges seriously. Colorado families should take proactive steps to ensure that any prior juvenile convictions are sealed from public access whenever feasible.
While juvenile offenses can present significant challenges in the college admissions process, there are steps that individuals can take to mitigate their impact. Honesty and transparency are paramount when disclosing criminal history on college applications. Providing context, demonstrating remorse, and highlighting personal growth and rehabilitation efforts can also help convey a positive impression to admissions committees.
Several factors, including your conduct after being arrested, criminal record, and sentence completion, influence your eligibility for expungement. Typically, you must adhere to the following waiting periods before filing for expungement:
If your initial expungement application is rejected, you must wait at least one year before reapplying. With awareness of state laws, proactive measures such as record expungement, and effective communication during the application process, individuals can strive to overcome these challenges and pursue their educational goals.
If you or your child was arrested as a juvenile and is interested in attending college, you are advised to seek help from our Colorado defense lawyer. Our Juvenile criminal defense attorney can help you understand your options and take the steps needed to minimize or eliminate the impact of your criminal charges on your ability to attend college.
Young individuals in Colorado need to be aware of the potential consequences of juvenile offenses and how they can impact their future opportunities, particularly concerning college admissions.
Seeking legal representation from a knowledgeable and experienced Colorado defense lawyer like Steven J. Pisani can significantly benefit those facing criminal charges, as he has a deep understanding of the state’s court systems and specializes in various traffic and criminally related matters.
Do not let one mistake hinder your educational and career aspirations. Reach out for dedicated legal support today.
