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- A Denver Colorado Juvenile Crimes Lawyer Explains the Two Kinds Of “Juvi” Jail
- Articles On Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – Dorm Room Searches – Can University Police Search My Dorm Room?
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – Juveniles Denied The Right To Jury Trial In Most Cases – 19-2-107
- If Your Child Is Arrested In A Colorado Juvenile Criminal Case – Some Tips For Parents From A Colorado Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyer
- Is My Child Just Bad – Or Does He Have A Conduct Disorder – Defenses & Sentencing In Colorado Juvenile Law Cases
- Colorado Juvenile Drug Crimes Defense – Fighting The Urge To Answer Police Questions – Those Are Not My Drugs
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – Juveniles With Mental Health Issues – Important Issues To Understand
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – I Am Now An Adult – How Can I Be Prosecuted in Juvenile Court?
- Avoiding Colorado Criminal Convictions – The Impact Of A Criminal History On College Applications
- Colorado Criminal Law – The Fraudulent Use Of Fake Or Phony ID’s By Underage Kids – What’s The Law?
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – Why Children In Colorado Juvenile Court Should Be Unshackled – Unchained
- Colorado Juvenile Law – Lowest Age Before You Can Be Charged In Juvenile Court
- Colorado Criminal Law – Can The Police Detain Me While A Search Warrant Is Executed?
- Your Daughter Has Been Arrested – What Is The Impact On Her? – Colorado Juvenile Law
- Colorado Criminal Juvenile Law – Why Using Facebook Can Be A Very Dangerous Thing To Do
- In Colorado – Can The Police Question My Child Without My Permission?
- 2016 Update – Questioning Juveniles In Colorado Criminal Investigations – Miranda Rights
- A Colorado Juvenile Criminal Lawyer Often Represents “At Risk” Kids
- Kids, Guns, And Colorado Juvenile Law – A Dangerous Combination Section 18-12-108.5
- Colorado Criminal Law – Did My Child Just Confess At The School?
- Colorado Criminal Law – Understanding Searches Of Juveniles In Schools
- Understanding Colorado Minor In Possession (MIP) Cases – C.R.S. 18-13-122 – Colorado Juvenile Criminal Lawyer Series
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Process Flowchart – ONE
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Process Flowchart – TWO
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Process – The Arrest – Summons
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Process – The Detention Hearing And The Screening Function
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Process – The Pretrial Process
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Process – The Filing Decision
- The Filing Of Charges Decision In Colorado Juvenile Criminal Cases – The Charging Decision – Plea Bargaining Part I of II
- The Filing Of Charges Decision In Colorado Juvenile Criminal Cases – How Is The Case To Be Charged – Plea Bargaining Part II of II
- Colorado Juvenile Diversion Programs 19-1- 103(44) – An Important Warning – Speedy Trial – Statute of Limitations 6-5-401(1)(a)
- Colorado Juvenile Sentencing Part 2 – The Direct File Juvenile Offender Law
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Process – The Adjudication Process
- Colorado Juvenile Law – The Right To A Speedier Speedy Trial 19-2-108 CRS
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Trials – A Look At How They Work
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Cases – Why Plea Bargaining In Juvenile Criminal Cases Is Different
- Colorado Juvenile Law – When IS There A Right To A Jury Trial? – C.R.S. 19- 2-107
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Process – The Pre-sentence Investigation
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Process – The Sentencing Decision
- The Colorado Juvenile Criminal Sentencing Hearing – Part I of III
- The Colorado Juvenile Criminal Sentencing Hearing – Part II of III
- The Colorado Juvenile Criminal Sentencing Hearing – Part III of III
- Understanding Colorado House Arrest – Home Detention Technology and Procedures
- A Denver Colorado Juvenile Crimes Lawyer Explains the Two Kinds Of “Juvi” Jail – DYC and YOS
- Understanding Colorado Juvenile Sentencing Part 1 – The Aggravated Juvenile Offender Law – § 19-2-601
- Colorado Juvenile Criminal Process – Post Conviction Issues
- Colorado Juvenile Law Statutes
- Sentencing Schedule – Options 19-2-907
- Colorado Juvenile Detention Screening Laws – C.R.S. 19-1-103(94.5), 19-2-212, 19-2-507(2),
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- Detention (JAIL) C.R.S. 19-2-507
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- Summons – Issuance – Contents – Service 19-2-514.
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- Juvenile Speedy trial – Procedural Schedule 19-2-108
- Evidentiary Considerations 19-2-802
- Admissibility Of Evidence At Juvenile Trials 19-2-803
- Procedures at Juvenile Trials 19-2-804
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- Sentencing – Special Offenders – 19-2-908
- Sentencing – Persons Eighteen Years of Age or Older – County Jail – Community Corrections 19-2-910.
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Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – I Am Now An Adult – How Can I Be Prosecuted in Juvenile Court?
By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Juvenile Crimes Criminal Defense Lawyer
Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – I Am Now An Adult – How Can I Be Prosecuted in Juvenile Court?
Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – I Am Now An Adult – How Can I Be Prosecuted in Juvenile Court? One of the most shocking situations to those arrested as adults for crimes they may or may not have committed as juveniles – is that after all of these years the juvenile court can still reach out and still prosecute them… that is they ask how can the juvenile court still have jurisdiction over them.
Colorado Juvenile Court Jurisdiction – the Law
We begin with some basic Colorado laws under Title 19 – Jurisdiction Under The Colorado Juvenile Code.
The Colorado Juvenile court may retain jurisdiction over a juvenile until:
1. All orders have been fully complied with,
2. All pending cases have been completed, or
3. The relevant statute of limitations has run
And this is true regardless of whether a juvenile has turned eighteen (18) years old and regardless of the age of the juvenile. The jurisdiction – that is – the power of the court in delinquency matters does not end when the juvenile turns eighteen years of age.
The Colorado juvenile court has exclusive jurisdiction over a child under CRS § 19-1-104 in delinquency proceedings.
The Process For Adults Arrested For Crimes They Allegedly Committed As Juveniles
The adult is brought to court in one of three different ways:
1. By arrest warrant.
2. Detention by law enforcement.
3. Summons and Complaint issued with a first court appearance date.
At the first court appearance, you will be advised of your rights and charges.
Even as an adult you will need to decide whether to plea bargain, enter a not guilty plea and set a trial, or plead guilty to the charges.
As a juvenile you would have been charged for a “delinquent act”
This is a violation of state and federal statutes and court orders but do not include non-felony state traffic laws, parks and recreation and game and fish laws or regulations, and offenses concerning tobacco products by an underage person.
A quick review – The typical juvenile court jurisdiction is for juveniles aged 10-17. At the time the juvenile turns 18 – they can be sentenced for criminal acts they committed as juveniles to county jail or to community corrections.
How Does A Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer Approach Adults Prosecuted In Juvenile Court?
it is important to note the obvious and practical difficulties of proving an “old crime.” These issues include statute of limitations defenses, lost evidence, lost witnesses, poor or distorted memory issues and other tactical considerations.
Assuming the case is “provable” the next questions is what is the legal and more importantly – the appropriate punishment? As in all old cases – the Defendant (called the Respondent in Juvenile Court) – must be sentenced in accordance with the juvenile code that existed at the time of the crime. That can be a positive or a negative thing depending on the laws in existence at the time of the original offense.
Adults Charged in Colorado Juvenile Court – Recent Developments In Neuroscience Of The Brain Have Changed The Way We View Juvenile Crime
When you are prosecuted as an adult for a crime that happened as a juvenile the Colorado criminal defense lawyer should argue the developments in neuroscience of the brain that explain to the Judge that juveniles have less risk perception, less foresight, and less self control than adults. That the focus of the sentence should take into consideration – no matter how serious the crime – that the adult of today – the crime committed as a juvenile should look closely at the “moral culpability” of the child who committed the crime.
The Issue Is Well Described By Rutgers Professor Laura Cohen:
“One of the interesting things about these old cases that end up in juvenile court is that it’s not that speculative. The question is, are you undertaking this evaluation with the benefit of hindsight, or are you trying to put yourself in the position that you would have been in when the person was 15?”
If you turn back the clock to a time when the crime was committed as a teenager, neuroscience and development psychology have proven that juveniles are developmentally different from adults. Juveniles are much less “risk-averse” than adults.
Juveniles – it is well established – engage in spontaneous acts without weighing of the risks and long-term consequences. Without life-experiences they simply cannot control their emotional impulses, to weigh and understand the consequences of their acts.
If that development has not taken place – in many instances until the person is in their twenties – the sentence of an adult for acts he or she committed as a juvenile SHOULD REFLECT these developmental differences.”
To summarize – there are 3 justifications for an adolescents’ reduced culpability:
1. Immature judgment,
2. Susceptibility to negative peer influences, and
3. Transitional identities
The Court’s Sentencing Orientation – Rehabilitation Over Deterrence and Punishment In Colorado Juvenile Court
The Colorado adult criminal justice system focuses primarily on deterrence of the actor while the Colorado juvenile justice system focuses on the rehabilitation of the offender. The goal of the juvenile system is that children are capable of change.
Depending on the Defendant’s criminal record since the time of the crime – the experienced Colorado criminal defense lawyer may argue:
1. The absence of a subsequent criminal history PROVES that the future of the juvenile is no longer speculative. The Court has the benefit of hindsight…. that the respondent’s life turned out well.
or alternatively,
2. The presence of a subsequent criminal history established the need for treatment which was never received because the juvenile’s crime was never detected and therefore the juvenile became the adult criminal
Both these positions are not only viable – and they are probably true in any given case.
In EITHER case – the need for a Colorado Juvenile Crimes defense lawyer who understands BOTH the adult AND the juvenile criminal codes and justice system is critical in these cases.
Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – I Am Now An Adult – How Can I Be Prosecuted in Juvenile Court?
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Never stop fighting – never stop believing in yourself and your right to due process of law.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: H. Michael Steinberg – Email The Author at [email protected] – A Denver Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer – or call his office at 303-627-7777 during business hours – or call his cell if you cannot wait and need his immediate assistance – 720-220-2277. Attorney H. Michael Steinberg is passionate about criminal defense. His extensive knowledge and experience of Colorado Criminal Law gives him the edge you need to properly handle your case.
A Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. If you are seeking counsel there maybe other more specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics. For that, please contact the author.
If you are charged with A Colorado crime or you have questions about the topic of this article – Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – I Am Now An Adult – How Can I Be Prosecuted in Juvenile Court?- please call our office. The Law Offices of H. Michael Steinberg, in Denver, Colorado, provide criminal defense clients with effective, efficient, intelligent and strong legal advocacy. We can educate you and help you navigate the stressful and complex legal process related to your criminal defense issue.
H. Michael Steinberg, is a Denver, Colorado criminal defense lawyer with over 40 years of day to day courtroom experience – specializing in Colorado Criminal Law along the Front Range. He will provide you with a free initial case consultation to evaluate your legal issues and to answer your questions with an honest assessment of your options. Remember, it costs NOTHING to discuss your case. Call now for an immediate free phone consultation.
Helping Clients To Make Informed Decisions In the Defense of Colorado Criminal Cases.
Contact A Lawyer with Three Decades of Experience as a Denver Criminal Attorney at The Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Law Firm today.
Colorado Defense Lawyer H. Michael Steinberg regularly appears and provides solid criminal defense for clients throughout the Front Range of Colorado – including the courts of:
Adams County (Adams County criminal defense lawyer), Arapahoe County (Arapahoe County criminal defense lawyer), City and County of Boulder (Boulder County criminal defense lawyer), City and County of Broomfield (Broomfield County criminal defense lawyer), City and County of Denver (Denver criminal defense lawyer), Douglas County (Douglas County criminal defense lawyer), El Paso County – Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs criminal defense lawyer), Gilpin County (Gilpin County criminal defense lawyer), Jefferson County (Jefferson County criminal defense lawyer), Larimer County, and Weld County ( Larimer and Weld County criminal defense lawyer,….
and all the other cities and counties of Colorado along the I-25 Corridor… on cases involving the subject of this article – Colorado Juvenile Criminal Law – I Am Now An Adult – How Can I Be Prosecuted in Juvenile Court?
Other Articles of Interest:
- Colorado Juvenile Diversion Programs 19-1- 103(44) – An Important Warning – Speedy Trial – Statute of Limitations 6-5-401(1)(a)
- Colorado Juvenile Law – Lowest Age Before You Can Be Charged In Juvenile Court
- Attorney Profile
- Kids, Guns, And Colorado Juvenile Law – A Dangerous Combination Section 18-12-108.5
- Understanding The Colorado Juvenile Pretrial System Part II of II
