Juvenile Offenses

With increasingly strict crack-downs on crime, penalties for those charged or convicted under the age of 18 have strayed from the realm of accountability to serious harm on a person’s future.  Juveniles—who have the trajectory of their lives still unwritten—are at increased risk of having every aspect of their lives affected by the penalties of the law, including foreclosure of educational opportunities, work prospects, and career setbacks during their crucial and formative early years.

At Law Office of Walker Fults, we understand how juveniles in Colorado can be affected when denied opportunities they have worked hard for because of legal trouble.  Having a skilled and aggressive attorney can make all the difference between a stain on a young person’s record that continually holds him back, and leaving a past mistake in the past.

Common Juvenile Crimes

Gone are the days of “boys will be boys” and lax attitudes towards underage offenders.  The Colorado Children’s Code, a criminal code just for those aged 10–18, lays out offenses that specifically apply to juveniles.  Special offenses applicable only to minors include truancy (habitually missing school), curfew violations, and underage possession of alcohol or drugs.  Moreover, juveniles can also be charged in County Court just as an adult would for offenses like Minor in Possession, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, or Driving Under the Influence.

Common Penalties for Juveniles

The Colorado Children’s Code takes into account the bigger picture and seeks to do what is best for the child.  Like in family court, however, the best interests of the child is often a matter not agreed to by all interested parties.  In some cases a child may be placed in another relative’s care, be fined, put on probation, placed in the care of a hospital, or sent to youth corrections.

In the most serious cases, juveniles can be deemed “violent juvenile offenders,” may be tried as adults, and earn status an a repeat juvenile offender.  Such cases are especially sensitive, especially if the best interest of the child competes with community calls for punishment and justice.

Boulder Juvenile and Child Offense Attorney

A criminal conviction is one of the most damaging, persistent, and discouraging road blocks a young person can face.  Many who start down the wrong path never find the way back.  If a loved one is facing juvenile criminal charges, contact a skilled Boulder Juvenile Attorney immediately to explore your legal options and create a strategy for the best way forward.