Serving People Throughout Colorado
Call Us For Free Consultation:
The arrest and prosecution of a person under 18 years can cause a lot of confusion and tension for any family. While juveniles receive a different treatment compared to adults, no parent or guardian wants to see their child handcuffed or face criminal penalties because of a crime. The good news is that you have a right to hire an attorney to fight your child’s charges, regardless of the specific circumstances surrounding his or her case.
At the Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, we have been defending minors for over ten years. Our juvenile defense attorney, Steven J. Pisani, has extensive legal knowledge and expertise to successfully defend your child’s rights. Talk to Denver Juvenile defense lawyer today to learn how he can put his 10-plus years of experience to work for you.
When children undergo an arrest in Denver or anywhere else in Colorado, they usually face a unique array of procedures and penalties compared to adult offenders. And it’s not difficult to understand why.
Children can easily make mistakes because their peers can easily sway them. Often, they commit errors in their judgment because they are inexperienced in both life and decision-making. Besides, teens usually find themselves in the wrong place at awkward times, making it easy for them to be arrested.
For these reasons, it’s essential that you contact a Denver juvenile defense attorney as soon as your child gets arrested. Ideally, this should happen before he or she holds any conversation with criminal investigators. Reach out to us today to learn how our Denver Juvenile lawyer can help. Steven J. Pisani has an impressive track record when it comes to handling juvenile cases.
While minors do not normally face stiff penalties like adult offenders, a lot is still at stake once your daughter or son is arrested. Luckily, the focus is typically on rehabilitation and not punishment. Despite this, severe consequences can still occur. Even if the youthful offender stays in a juvenile court, confinement and substantial fines may still be imposed.
Besides, there’s the possibility of being committed to the Department of Human Services. However, that depends on how serious the offense is and whether the child has repeatedly committed the offense.
Sometimes, the district courts may handle certain juvenile felony cases if the district attorney has a reason to believe the young offender in question should be tried like other adults.
To face trial as an adult, the young offender must be 12 years and above and be charged with a class 4 felony or higher. Typically, a case may not be transferred to the district court unless the young person charged has prior cases where he or she appeared in the district or criminal courts.
According to the National Juvenile Justice Center, about two-thirds of all juvenile cases referred to the district court have to do with violent crimes like aggravated assault or robbery.
The cases of young people aged at least 16 years and charged with a class 1 or 2 felony, weapon felonies, or violent felonies, may be filed directly at the district court rather than having to begin at the juvenile court and transferring them later on. Juveniles involved in such cases will be tried as adults, even if they are just 16 or 17 years.
Colorado’s Juvenile Justice System has jurisdiction over young offenders aged between 10 and 18. Under Colorado law, a person aged 18 qualifies to be an adult. But, as discussed above, even young people below 18 can be charged as adults.
However, it is crucial to note that a convicted Colorado young offender may face the following penalties:
Parents of a juvenile offender are also accountable in the Juvenile Justice System. The state holds you responsible for your son or daughter’s actions. As a result, you might:
If your child has been accused of or arrested for a crime, your best move is to contact the Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani. Our Denver Juvenile lawyer will review your case and answer any questions that you have. No matter what crime your child is being accused of committing, we will do everything in our power to protect your child’s rights if you trust us to handle your case. Call us now at (303) 635-6768. The sooner you do, the better your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome will be.
